The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neurological disabilities of the lower extremities, as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand is not established on a 'facts found or direct basis.' A VA examination is needed to address the etiology of his current neurological disabilities and whether they are related to his service-connected hypertension.
The deciding factor: The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, which is necessary for establishing service connection based on such exposure. Therefore, a VA examination is required to address this matter.
- Claimed conditions
- neurological disability of the right lower extremity, neurological disability of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24000388
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,455 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24000388.
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 service connection for neurological disabilities of the right and left lower extremities, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
- Partly granted
The veteran's request for an increased rating for low back disability was denied, but special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance was granted. Issues related to left hip disability and neurological disability were remanded.
- Denied
Service connection is denied for neurological disabilities of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, leukocytosis, a bilateral elbow disability, a heart disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability.,Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disability, kidney disability, retinopathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for neurological disabilities of the left and right lower extremities have been dismissed due to his death.
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