The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and new evidence submitted by the appellant. The VA needs to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous medical opinion was inadequate and requested a new one from a physician, as well as copies of studies cited in a recent private opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Glioblastoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21061721
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 21061721.
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 Veteran's brain tumor, diagnosed as glioblastoma, is found to be due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The Board grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD with major depressive disorder and psychotic features was denied, while the appeals for service connection for COPD, glioblastoma, and melanoma were withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board has granted the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his glioblastoma was related to herbicide exposure during service. The cause of death was respiratory failure due to glioblastoma.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, but he was receiving non-service-connected pension benefits. The Board has granted burial benefits for the Veteran based on his receipt of such benefits.
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