The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for liposarcoma, its secondary effects on his scar and cervical spine, and a temporary total evaluation due to hospitalization or convalescence. The deck logs from USS Forrestal (CV-59) need to be obtained and reviewed to determine if there were fuel leaks during the Veteran's service that could support his claim of exposure to jet fuels. A new VA opinion is needed regarding whether liposarcoma is related to this exposure, and another VA opinion is needed on whether the secondary conditions are at least as likely as not due to or aggravated by liposarcoma.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the deck logs need to be obtained to verify the Veteran's presence aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59) during the claimed timeframe, and a new VA opinion is needed regarding whether his liposarcoma is related to exposure to jet fuels. The secondary conditions also require a VA opinion on their relationship to liposarcoma.
- Claimed conditions
- liposarcoma, residual scar of liposarcoma surgery, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20081165
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,456 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20081165.
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 liposarcoma, residual surgical scar status post liposarcoma resection, right lower extremity is rated at a noncompensable level (0%) and has been granted an initial evaluation of 10%.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected liposarcoma of the lung resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance, which is now effective as of August 8, 2023.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for liposarcoma, finding that his cancer is related to his service at the World Trade Center site following September 11, 2001. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for liposarcoma and its residuals, as well as entitlement to a total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU), resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor.
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