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 link between the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the high esophagus and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid and his active service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The cancers were determined not to be related to service connection criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the high esophagus, papillary carcinoma of the thyroid
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19132225
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,863 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19132225.
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 esophageal cancer and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, finding that exposure to toxic pollutants from incinerators during active duty is related to these conditions. The PACT Act presumption applies due to the Veteran's top-secret work at the ASA Field Station in Germany.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to additional evidence received and the PACT Act, which requires a TERA-specific examination.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's hypothyroidism, resulting from a thyroidectomy due to papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, is granted as service connected based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded two cases: one for Graves' disease and the other for papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, both related to in-service exposure to radiation from missile control systems. The examiner is required to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by this exposure.
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