The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma, which may be related to his military service. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information and possibly undergo a medical examination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was not enough evidence to determine whether the Veteran’s cholangiocarcinoma is related to his military service, specifically due to insufficient exposure data and lack of definitive proof regarding the cause of his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- cholangiocarcinoma
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150286
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of November 30, 2016, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for cholangiocarcinoma.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, cholangiocarcinoma, based on evidence supporting a direct relationship between the disease and the Veteran's in-service exposure to Agent Orange.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for a survivor's pension was denied due to the appellant's countable income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for cause of death.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to cholangiocarcinoma, finding no evidence that it was caused by exposure to herbicides or liver flukes during service, and also found no aggravation by a resolved laryngeal cancer.
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.