The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cancer of the lymph nodes and tonsils, including due to exposure to Agent Orange, is remanded. The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent from October 25, 2007, to October 19, 2008, and in excess of 60 percent from October 20, 2008, to March 17, 2009, and from July 1, 2009, for arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension status post coronary artery by graft is also remanded.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not provide sufficient information to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cancer of the lymph nodes and tonsils or whether it is related to service or Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- cancer of the lymph nodes and tonsils
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18127972
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 18127972.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for cancer and an increased rating for his heart disability due to lack of proper notification regarding scheduled VA examinations, incomplete military personnel records, and potential need for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
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