The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for skin cancer of the face due to Agent Orange exposure, service connection for allergies due to Agent Orange exposure, and service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent on any skin disabilities or back injuries. There is no current diagnosis of skin cancer, but his VA medical records show a history of a rash on his face. Service connection for allergies and degenerative arthritis due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded as there was not an examination assessing the etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that service connection cannot be established without a current diagnosis of skin cancer, which is lacking in the record. The Veteran's allergies and back disability are presumed to have been caused by his confirmed Agent Orange exposure, but further clarification on their causation during active duty is needed.
- Claimed conditions
- skin cancer of the face, allergies, degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- A20019198
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 A20019198.
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 denied service connection for a bowel condition and remanded claims for allergies, migraine headaches, low back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, GERD, right knee condition, and left knee condition.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition and tinnitus, denied a higher rating for PTSD, and remanded the remaining claims for further development.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for a compensable rating for headaches, an increased rating for PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea with asthma, as well as denied service connection for various conditions including allergies, bronchiectasis, nasal polyps, nausea, severe anxiety, severe depression, sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideations, and vertigo.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for allergies, chronic shortness of breath, and GERD was dismissed as there is no specific determination with which the claimant disagrees.
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