The Veteran's squamous cell cancer of the tonsils is not eligible for service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The Board has ordered remand to obtain an addendum opinion from VA and private medical records.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to provide a nexus opinion linking the Veteran’s cancer to his presumed exposure to herbicides during service.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer of the tonsils
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18121768
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 18121768.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell cancer of the tonsils, finding that it was caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's squamous cell cancer of the tonsils was incurred in active service, and granted service connection for this condition.
- 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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