The Board has remanded the claims for tuberculosis, heart disability (claimed as open-heart surgery), kidney failure, and a disability manifested by pain and numbness in the bilateral upper extremities due to presumed exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was inadequate to resolve the claims on appeal, necessitating further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- tuberculosis, heart disability (claimed as open-heart surgery), kidney failure, disability manifested by pain and numbness in the bilateral upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 18, 2026
- Citation
- 26002229
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 26002229.
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 tuberculosis, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to conflicting evidence and need for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder pain disability and denied the claims for erectile dysfunction, left shoulder condition, diabetes, kidney failure, and stomach upper and lower conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and kidney failure due to potential exposure to herbicides during service. The appellant must provide a new TERA memorandum addressing his claimed exposure, specifically considering the January 2024 Gagetown Commission Report.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and kidney failure. The AOJ is required to consider this new evidence in deciding these claims.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.