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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A24024347.
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 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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