The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's lymphoma was related to his participation in toxic exposure risk activity during active service, including his exposure to exhaust fumes and pollutants emitted from C-141 aircraft.
The deciding factor: A pre-decisional duty-to-assist error occurred as no medical opinion was obtained prior to the AOJ decision on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25099897
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25099897.
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 Veteran has been evaluated at a 100% disability rating since April 14, 2024. The Board finds the criteria for eligibility to enroll in PCAFC have been met due to his need for personal care services for six continuous months based on his lymphoma and related conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eligibility for the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and insufficient notice. The Board found that the Veteran required personal care services due to his chronic conditions, including lymphoma, congestive heart failure, lung cancer, and decreased mobility.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was listed as emphysema, but the Board found no causal connection to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the initial decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits was not properly notified and requires a new medical opinion to determine if the Veteran needs personal care services based on his conditions.
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