The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received since the August 2009 rating decision, warranting readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.
The deciding factor: New private medical records provided a nexus opinion linking the Veteran's squamous cell cancer of the head and neck to herbicide agent exposure, which was not previously considered in the August 2009 rating decision.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer of the head and neck
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2023
- Citation
- A23029555
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A23029555.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claim for service connection for cause of death to consider new evidence regarding coronary artery disease and hypertension as potential causes of death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his squamous cell cancer was caused by exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if the veteran was exposed to Agent Orange and to clarify the primary site of his fatal cancer.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
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