The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma with basal cell carcinoma and macular seborrheic keratosis due to insufficient evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesuflonic acid (PFOS) from contaminated water during firefighting training. The VA is instructed to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether there is a link between the Veteran's toxic exposures and his diagnosed conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the provided medical opinions were insufficient, particularly regarding the impact of the time gap between exposure and diagnosis on causation.
- Claimed conditions
- Leukemia, Squamous cell carcinoma with basal cell carcinoma and macular seborrheic keratosis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 9, 2024
- Citation
- A24024347
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 A24024347.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Leukemia have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and needs additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's leukemia.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and whether it is at least as likely as not that the causes were proximately due or aggravated by service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for leukemia, finding that his exposure to radiation during Operation Sandstone qualifies him as a presumptive radiation-exposed veteran and thus meeting the criteria for service connection.
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