The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cardiac disability, diabetes mellitus, right leg amputation, bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, and back disability due to potential herbicide agent exposure at Mactan Air Base in the Philippines. The claim for SMC is also remanded as additional evidence was received since the last statement of the case.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records indicate he served at Mactan Air Base where he may have been exposed to herbicide agents, and there are claims of service connection based on this exposure. The Board has ordered further development including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiac disability, diabetes mellitus, right leg amputation, bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, back disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2022
- Citation
- 22059167
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 22059167.
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 reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, hip, and lower extremity disabilities due to a lack of VA examination and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses and lay statements will be considered in determining if his conditions are related to service.
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