The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error related to the Veteran's toxic exposure during military service.
The deciding factor: The July 2023 medical opinions were found inadequate as they did not properly consider the Veteran's total potential exposure and the synergistic, combined effect of all toxic exposure risk activities.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiovascular disease, status post stroke and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), unspecified joint pains (RA serum negative), neck disorder, status post neck surgeries, right shoulder disorder, status post right shoulder replacement, right hip disorder, status post right hip replacement
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25027033
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 various conditions, including a head injury, headache disorder, erectile dysfunction, left earache disorder, chronic fatigue, right shoulder disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, right foot disorder, GERD, and left shoulder disorder, as the evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as higher levels of special monthly compensation.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, including bicipital tendon tear, rotator cuff tear, and tendinosis, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronicity of symptoms to support a direct link between the current condition and active duty.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
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