The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on both his TDIU claim and the severance of service connection for oropharyngeal cancer. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a VA examination to assess hearing impairment and PTSD impact on employment, and again review his TDIU claim.
The deciding factor: The appeal is remanded due to procedural issues with the severance decision and because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may have worsened since last evaluated for rating purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer of the tonsil
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1541787
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 1541787.
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 found that the Veteran's squamous cell cancer of the tonsil did not manifest in service and was unrelated to any disease, injury or event in service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The opinion from a medical specialist concluded that the Veteran's head and neck cancer is more likely related to his history of smoking and alcohol abuse rather than Agent Orange exposure.
- Granted
The Veteran's squamous cell cancer of the tonsil is related to his service exposure to Agent Orange, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for tonsil cancer due to Agent Orange exposure is being remanded as the RO needs to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's squamous cell cancer of the tonsil is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service, and grants service connection for this condition.
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