The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to Agent Orange exposure, as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding obtaining a TERA medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The RO denied the Veteran's claims based on presumptive service connection without providing a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the disabilities and the toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).
- Claimed conditions
- loss of taste, stricture of esophagus, throat cancer residuals
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2023
- Citation
- A23029107
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 A23029107.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal stricture and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion regarding the latter condition. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining such an opinion.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims were granted effective from May 6, 2020. His SMC claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not affect his ability to work.
- Denied
The Veteran was awarded service connection for allergic rhinitis based on the PACT Act, but an earlier effective date prior to August 10, 2022, is not warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, loss of taste, and loss of smell to obtain additional medical evidence.
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