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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims of service connection for cervical spine and skin rash disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active military service.
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