The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for cause of death and entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The case will be reviewed by an oncologist to determine if the Veteran's esophageal cancer was related to military service, including exposure to herbicides. Additional information on the appellant's income from 2010 to present is also needed.
The deciding factor: The Board found that a remand was necessary due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran’s esophageal cancer and insufficient development of the appellant's income for pension benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19185723
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 19185723.
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 service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and polyneuropathy in all extremities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or a service-connected condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is related to his service, including exposure to warehouse chemicals and herbicide agents.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's condition and his military service or exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, finding no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure. The eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance was also denied.
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.