The Veteran's breast cancer is presumed to be due to burn pit toxin exposure while serving in Saudi Arabia. The claim for service connection under the PACT Act is granted, but the claim for service connection on a basis other than as pursuant to the PACT Act is remanded.
The deciding factor: The decision grants the Veteran's claim of service connection for breast cancer under the PACT Act due to presumed exposure to burn pit toxins. However, the claim for service connection based on other exposures (such as radiation or herbicide agents) requires further development and medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- breast cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2023
- Citation
- A23029239
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 A23029239.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for breast cancer, as secondary to her fibrocystic breast disease. The decision is based on a duty to assist error and requires a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's breast cancer.
- Granted
The Veteran's breast cancer is granted service connection, with the Board finding that her condition is at least as likely as not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during her military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for breast cancer and right knee disability due to a lack of VA examination and opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions in the context of her military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claims for vertigo, breast cancer, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA). The claim for coronary atherosclerotic disease is also remanded.
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