The Board remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans tumor to develop the factual record regarding potential chemical exposures during military service. The case requires clarification of specific chemical exposures at Fort Belvoir and Fort Bragg, including herbicide agents, and a medical opinion on causation before a final determination can be made.
The deciding factor: The Veteran met the requirement for a present diagnosis, but the record was insufficient to establish which specific chemicals he was exposed to and whether any such exposure could cause his skin cancer, necessitating development of the claims file and an addendum medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- skin neoplasms, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans tumor
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20071631
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.