The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death is remanded due to a lack of VCAA notice and the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the possible relationship between the Veteran's earlier breast tissue cancer and his cause of death.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on insufficient VCAA notice and the need to determine if the Veteran's earlier breast tissue cancer contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, which requires additional evidence and a medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute cardio-respiratory failure, Septic shock, Refractory hemolytic anemia, Breast tissue cancer (soft tissue sarcoma)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2021
- Citation
- 21068976
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 21068976.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for further development, including obtaining a new medical nexus opinion and addressing potential exposure to herbicides and asbestos.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to or cause his death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and relevant treatment records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing whether his respiratory failure, septic shock, hemorrhagic shock, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and chronic osteomyelitis of the right leg were related to in-service toxic exposure or an in-service right leg injury.
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