The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to potential service connection for thyroid disability and T-cell lymphoma related to exposure during military deployments in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's toxic exposures during service, including exposure to fumes from burning oil wells or any other potential environmental exposures from walking through structures in Iraq that had recently been destroyed by missiles. Additionally, there is an implicit TERA claim for service connection due to the Veteran's service in these locations.
- Claimed conditions
- Thyroid disability, T-cell lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 3, 2023
- Citation
- 23059597
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 23059597.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a thyroid disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a thyroid disability and hypertension, as the Veteran's assertions regarding these conditions are not fully addressed in the current evidence.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for T-cell lymphoma was granted on a presumptive basis pursuant to the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. The earlier effective date is denied.,SMC based on housebound status was granted effective August 10, 2022, and an earlier effective date is not warranted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with insomnia due to MST and service connection for a thyroid disability, which led to their dismissal.
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