The Board has denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the high esophagus and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The cause of death was attributed to aspiration pneumonia with head and neck cancer as the underlying condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed disabilities and active service or presumed herbicide exposure, leading to denial of service connection for both squamous cell carcinoma of the high esophagus and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. The cause of death was attributed to aspiration pneumonia with head and neck cancer as the underlying condition.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the high esophagus, papillary carcinoma of the thyroid
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19132225
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.
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.