The Board remanded the claim for service connection for squamous cell cancer of the right tonsil to obtain further development and a supplemental VA examination. The Board noted the VA conceded the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange but found the existing medical opinions speculative or inadequate, and needed to confirm the Veteran's radiation exposure before adjudication.
The deciding factor: The Board found existing medical opinions either speculative or failing to address the Veteran's specific assertions regarding exposure to dioxins, TCDD, and radiation during naval service, and determined that radiation exposure needed verification before a proper nexus opinion could be obtained.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer of the right tonsil
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20000579
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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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