The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypopharynx cancer and his presumed herbicide exposure during service.
The deciding factor: The location of the Veteran’s cancer, which touches a body part that would be presumptively service-connected due to herbicide exposure, provided an indication that a medical opinion addressing this potential relationship was necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- hypopharynx cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20024697
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20024697.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypopharynx cancer and obstructive sleep apnea to obtain additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his hypopharynx cancer, which was found to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange. The Board also established direct service connection for the hypopharynx cancer.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death, pneumonia and hypopharynx cancer, was not caused by or related to his military service. The Board found no evidence linking the fatal diseases to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the January 2020 decision and the need for an advisory opinion from an independent medical expert. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypopharynx cancer is being reviewed again.
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