The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to a pre-decisional error, and will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated. The issue of service connection for SCC is not currently before the Board.
The deciding factor: The weight of the available evidence demonstrates that the Veteran's throat cancer metastasized from his non-service-connected SCC.
- Claimed conditions
- throat/lymph node cancer with residual speech impediment, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24019236
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 A24019236.
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 squamous cell carcinoma based on the Veteran's toxic exposures in service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a skin disability and hernias to obtain additional medical opinions, as the previous VA examinations are found insufficient.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining a new VA examination regarding the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lip, specifically related to in-service sun exposure and/or conceded in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection based on his reported noise exposure during service. Service connection for hearing loss and prostate cancer were denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for disability, while the colostomy associated with prostate cancer was also denied.
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