The Veteran's non-small cell lung cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 0%, effective November 1, 2015. The Board has decided this issue is remanded due to uncertainty regarding the current status of his lung cancer.
The deciding factor: The Board found the August 2020 VA addendum opinion inadequate and requested an addendum opinion to determine the nature and severity of any residuals from the Veteran's small cell carcinoma resection.
- Claimed conditions
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20069126
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 Veteran's death was caused by non-small cell lung cancer, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in the territorial sea of Vietnam. As a result, service connection for his cause of death has been granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as his lung cancer was not shown to be related to his military service and he did not set foot within the land borders of Vietnam during his service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.