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
- Not verified here — check the original 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18104990.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant before a decision could be issued.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
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