The Veteran seeks service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx, which he claims is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that a VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if the cancer developed as a result of Agent Orange exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim requires an evaluation by a medical professional to determine whether his squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx is related to his service, including potential Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2016
- Citation
- 1643684
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 1643684.
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 Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx, finding it at least as likely as not that the condition was caused by exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's oropharyngeal cancer is related to herbicide exposure in service. The VA examiner needs to address the Veteran’s history of smoking and quitting.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's herbicide exposure and HPV status, which are key factors in determining whether his cancer is related to service.
- Denied
The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx is related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence weighs against the claim.
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