The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for Merkel cell carcinoma for additional development.
The deciding factor: The April 2020 VA medical opinion did not adequately address the relationship between in-service exposure and the Veteran's Merkel cell carcinoma, necessitating a remand for further examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Merkel cell carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2022
- Citation
- 22000871
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 Board granted service connection for Merkel cell carcinoma based on the Veteran's presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Merkel cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service, including exposure to ionizing radiation.
- 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.
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