The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for dermatitis, hypertension, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and neuropathy, resection of the large intestine, esophagus stricture, and shortness of breath should be remanded due to a lack of information regarding specific toxic exposures during his service aboard the USS Forrestal in July 1967.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to insufficient information about the exact toxic exposures to which the Veteran was subjected during his active duty, specifically during the fire aboard the USS Forrestal. Therefore, new examinations are needed after determining the specific chemicals/toxins he was exposed to.
- Claimed conditions
- dermatitis, hypertension, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and neuropathy, resection of the large intestine, esophagus stricture, shortness of breath
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2023
- Citation
- A23036738
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 A23036738.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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