The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear basal cell carcinoma, a skin condition on the back (including chloracne and scar residuals), and a rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease from February 17, 2011 to April 8, 2013. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Court found fault with the Board's reliance on a June 2018 VA opinion and instructed the Board to secure an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran’s in-service sunlight exposure contributed to his later development of basal cell carcinoma, and to establish a nexus between presumed toxic herbicide exposure and chloracne.
- Claimed conditions
- right ear basal cell carcinoma, skin disorder affecting the entire body (including chloracne and scar residuals)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20065952
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.