The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and postsurgical hypothyroidism with left partial thyroidectomy are remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Panama.
The deciding factor: The absence of a Department of Defense investigation report referenced by the AOJ in its November 2023 rating decision represents a pre-decisional duty to assist error and must be obtained and associated with the claims file prior to adjudication.
- Claimed conditions
- prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, postsurgical hypothyroidism with left partial thyroidectomy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2024
- Citation
- A24056378
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 A24056378.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
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