The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the duty to assist and an inadequate September 2017 VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA did not adequately address whether it made reasonable efforts to obtain private treatment records from Crestmont Nursing Home, McLaren Regional Medical Center, and VA treatment records.
- Claimed conditions
- Colon cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20058648
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20058648.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected colon cancer disability, finding that there is inadequate evidence to support a compensable rating prior to March 23, 2021 and no increase in rating thereafter.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer has been granted due to new and relevant evidence received since the previous denial. The Board finds that the Veteran's current disability is a condition that had its onset during his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of colon cancer is granted, with a new rating of 30 percent effective December 1, 2024. The claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for two painful scars and for compensable ratings for four remaining scars are denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically concerning his bladder cancer and other cancers allegedly caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
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