The Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right third finger and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran had exposure to asbestos during service which may be associated with his SCC. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service exposure to sunlight and jet fuel are credible. For sleep apnea, there is a need for an examination to determine whether it was present before August 2010 or incurred in service.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the right third finger, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2018
- Citation
- 1811911
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 1811911.
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 denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
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