The Board remands the case to obtain a medical opinion from a physician specializing in environmental health and toxic exposures regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Buerger's disease, specifically whether it is related to his service or exposure to Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: The prior medical opinions were insufficient as they relied on pure conjecture with no supporting evidence and did not address the Veteran's specific exposure to herbicides or radiation.
- Claimed conditions
- Buerger's disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2024
- Citation
- 24031594
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 remands the case for a medical opinion from a physician specializing in environmental health and toxic exposures to address the etiology of the Veteran's Buerger's disease, specifically regarding its relation to service and exposure to Agent Orange.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death as there was insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran had service in Vietnam, and even if he did, the preponderance of the evidence is against the finding that it caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.