The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the lymph nodes. The case will be further reviewed by a medical professional to determine the etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence to support presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure, but did not rule out direct or secondary service connection based on the Veteran's history and risk factors.
- Claimed conditions
- oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the lymph nodes
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2018
- Citation
- 18131314
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 18131314.
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 remands the claim for service connection for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion, as all elements of the McLendon criteria are met.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and residuals of surgery associated with it due to insufficient evidence regarding their relation to active duty, including potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 12, 2023, for service connection for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and DIC based on the cause of death due to this condition, which is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during active service. The Veteran's immediate cause of death was oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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