The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and kidney dysfunction due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, as well as their relationship to service-connected coronary heart disease (CAD) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions that address Dr. Shoag's opinion regarding the link between these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA clinician provided insufficient rationale for the negative opinions on the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly failing to discuss Dr. Shoag's opinion and providing a conclusory statement without addressing the specific issues raised in the case.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), left lower extremity (LLE), Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), right lower extremity (RLE), Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), right upper extremity (RUE), Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), left upper extremity (LUE), Kidney Dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 25, 2022
- Citation
- 22030772
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 22030772.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's chronic infection following a July 2009 splenectomy was not caused by VA negligence or fault, and the event was not reasonably foreseeable. As such, he is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
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