The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil is related to herbicide exposure during service. The case will be returned for further review.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner was unavailable, and the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) has not provided additional information on herbicide transport aboard ships.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 16, 2011
- Citation
- 1130402
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 1130402.
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's squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil, with left lymph node metastasis status post left radical tonsillectomy and neck dissection is related to exposure to an herbicide agent during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil is not related to his active service, including any in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil, status post surgery is dismissed as the January 2001 rating decision has become final.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil due to herbicide exposure is being remanded for additional development, including verification of potential exposure at Nam Phong, Thailand.
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