The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to issues related to his participation in Project SHAD, including exposure to bacillus globigii (BG), betapropiolactone (BPL), and zinc cadmium sulfide. The claims include lung disability, kidney cysts, skin disability, cervical spine disability, low back disability, gastrointestinal disability, and headaches.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA medical opinions did not adequately address the evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding potential health implications of cadmium exposure associated with Project SHAD.
- Claimed conditions
- pleurisy, pneumonia of the lungs, residuals of a surgically removed bronchogenic cyst of the left lung adrenal gland, kidney cysts, eczema, seborrheic keratosis, cervical spine disability, low back disability, gastrointestinal disability (diverticulitis and GERD), headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20079627
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 20079627.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches with an initial rating of 50 percent effective from August 10, 2022, and denied the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disability, low back disability, and erectile dysfunction.
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