The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II, due to potential exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at U-Tapao Airfield in Thailand. The remand requires verification of the Veteran's duty areas and confirmation of the authenticity of a JSRRC memorandum.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents due to potential discrepancies in the record, particularly concerning his duties at U-Tapao Airfield and the authenticity of a Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) memorandum.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate disorder, urethral stricture and residuals of corrective surgery, bladder disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070430
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, as well as the Veteran's cause of death.
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