The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma may be service-connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange, but the specific type of cancer (soft-tissue sarcoma) is unclear from the records. The Board has ordered a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran’s cancer qualifies for presumptive service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served in Vietnam and was exposed to herbicides, including Agent Orange. However, renal cell carcinoma does not fall under the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure. The cancer had mixed features but is unclear whether it falls under soft-tissue sarcoma.
- Claimed conditions
- renal cell carcinoma, soft-tissue sarcoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19165038
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 19165038.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and her military service.
- Granted
The Board granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to the Veteran's service-connected renal cell carcinoma.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding that it was due to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his causes of death were not related to his military service.
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