The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypopharynx cancer and loss of sense of smell due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was a low threshold necessary to establish entitlement to a VA medical opinion as the Veteran's death certificate noted 'tobacco and agent orange exposure in Vietnam' as causes of death, including hypopharynx cancer and loss of sense of smell.
- Claimed conditions
- hypopharynx cancer, loss of sense of smell
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19165633
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 19165633.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD and an initial 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome with pinguecula, while denying service connection for other psychiatric disorders, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions. Some claims were remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 28, 2015 for the awards of service connection for various conditions including Parkinson's disease with weakness, tremor, and bradykinesia of the left upper extremity; right upper extremity weakness with tremor and bradykinesia (major); depressive disorder with sleep impairment; right lower extremity weakness with bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and balance impairment; left lower extremity balance impairment with muscle rigidity; speech changes, right CN-10; speech changes, left CN-10; stooped posture, right CN-11; stooped posture, left CN-11; erectile dysfunction; constipation; loss of sense of smell; and right automatic movements, CN-7; left automatic movements, CN-7.
- Dismissed
All appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed as they were duplicative of previously addressed appeals or due to untimely filings.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several conditions effective April 16, 2007, but no earlier, and denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for constipation. SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was granted from August 30, 2013.
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