The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypopharyngeal cancer and cause of death due to lack of evidence on direct causation. The appellant believes the Veteran's hypopharyngeal cancer is related to herbicide exposure, but a VA oncologist must provide an opinion on whether it is a form of respiratory or laryngeal cancer (presumptive) and if it is related to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence to establish direct causation without further medical evaluation regarding the presumptive relationship to herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- hypopharyngeal cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18104990
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 18104990.
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 Veteran died of hypopharyngeal cancer, which the VA does not consider to be related to his service. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant before a decision could be issued.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
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