The Board remands the claim for service connection for cause of death due to gastric cancer, as a new medical opinion is required to address toxic exposures other than Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: A pre-decisional duty to assist error occurred because the VA opinion did not adequately address all potential toxic exposures in Vietnam, including those from gunshots, mortars, grenades, and other airborne chemicals.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastric cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25024274
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his gastric cancer was at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing it to gastric cancer that was linked to Agent Orange exposure during his military service.
- 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.
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