The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for frontotemporal lobe dementia, including as secondary to service-connected thrombocytopenia and due to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran's personnel records show he worked in various roles related to missile control communications equipment repair, but VA did not obtain his DD Form 1141 or pursue dose assessment based on claimed exposure. Further development is needed including obtaining the DD Form 1141 and following VA regulatory criteria for claims based on radiation exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that VA did not make reasonable efforts to verify the Veteran's contentions of in-service ionizing radiation exposure, specifically while working in missile silos. The claim is remanded to pursue further development including obtaining the DD Form 1141 and following VA regulatory criteria for claims based on radiation exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- frontotemporal lobe dementia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20047451
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 20047451.
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 service connection for frontotemporal lobe dementia and chronic kidney disease, finding no evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and the current disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for frontotemporal lobe dementia to address duty to assist errors and obtain a medical opinion under the standard for toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for frontotemporal lobe dementia, including as secondary to his service-connected thrombocytopenia and/or related to ionizing radiation exposure. The remand includes obtaining a supplemental opinion on whether the Veteran has dementia and if it is caused by any exposure to ionizing radiation during his service.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's frontotemporal lobe dementia is not related to his active duty service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.