The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's small intestine cancer is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer and resulting prostate cancer residuals.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the examiner applied a more stringent standard than required by law, which only requires any aggravation. A supplemental opinion is needed to address this issue.
- Claimed conditions
- neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine (small intestine cancer)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20061232
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 20061232.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's small intestine cancer is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected prostate cancer and/or prostate cancer residuals, or if it has been aggravated by them. The claim will be considered under the secondary service connection theory due to Agent Orange exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected due to his fear of hostile military activity during his Vietnam service.
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