The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if esophageal cancer was caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient medical opinion regarding a potential relationship between esophageal cancer and exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- adenocarcinoma of the esophagus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2021
- Citation
- 21005638
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 21005638.
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 Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cancer was caused by his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, finding that it is due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and herbicide agents in Vietnam. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to bile duct and esophageal cancers, which are presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure during his service in Vietnam.
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