The Veteran's service records show exposure to herbicide agents while stationed on the USS Oriskany off the coast of Vietnam. The Board finds a remand is warranted for VA examination and review of deck logs to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess skin conditions affecting the feet and legs, as well as headaches.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records show exposure to herbicide agents while stationed on the USS Oriskany off the coast of Vietnam. The Board finds a remand is warranted for further review of deck logs and VA examinations to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease (CAD), Type II diabetes mellitus, Skin disability affecting the right foot, Skin disability affecting the left foot, Skin disability affecting the right leg, Skin disability affecting the left leg, Headaches
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20026663
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20026663.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance from June 1, 2011, to May 24, 2017, finding that his need for regular aid and attendance was not established during this period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's current coronary artery disease with acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction with coronary stent is being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of a medical nexus between his service-connected hypertension and his heart condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
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