The Board has remanded the claims for squamous cell adenocarcinoma of right mandibular buccal mucosa, residuals of left fibula harvest associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma, scars of the neck, head and face associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma, a left leg scar associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma, and a left upper arm scar status post skin graft associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma due to inadequate opinion in the November 2015 VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the November 2015 VA opinion is inadequate to decide the claim as it did not address whether there was aggravation involved and relevant evidence submitted after the opinion was rendered, therefore, it was not considered.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell adenocarcinoma of right mandibular buccal mucosa, residuals of left fibula harvest associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma, scars of the neck, head and face associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma, a left leg scar associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma, a left upper arm scar status post skin graft associated with squamous cell adenocarcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19108844
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,726 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19108844.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and failure to adequately discuss whether squamous cell adenocarcinoma is linked to herbicide agent exposure. The case must be remanded for a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.