The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral carotid endarterectomy, colorectal cancer, herniated stoma repair, and pulmonary arterial hypertension to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist by scheduling additional examinations.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the November 2023 VA opinion is inadequate due to its failure to explain why a remote diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension could not be related to service and what significance time played relative to the relationship between the pulmonary hypertension diagnosis and service, among other reasons. Additionally, the claims require further development for an adequate medical opinion regarding whether any preexisting conditions were aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral carotid endarterectomy, colorectal cancer, herniated stoma repair, pulmonary arterial hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2025
- Citation
- A25039128
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.
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- Granted
The Board granted service connection for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer based on new evidence and the Veteran's exposure to contaminated Camp Lejeune water.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder is granted a higher initial rating of 100 percent, while other claims for service connection were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and special monthly compensation based on housebound status, as well as service connection for colorectal cancer due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
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