The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords, claimed as throat cancer, is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to his exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board finds that further development is needed regarding this issue.
The deciding factor: There has been an inadequate development of the Veteran's assertion regarding exposure to ionizing radiation during service.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2024
- Citation
- A24036063
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 A24036063.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords and gastroesophageal disorder, including GERD, hiatal hernia, and Barrett's esophagus, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The AOJ must verify any potential asbestos exposure during service and obtain medical opinions regarding the likelihood that these conditions are related to such exposure.
- Granted
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide agent exposure during service, and he has residuals that are now service-connected.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiners regarding the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims will be reviewed again with new opinions from the examiners.
- Dismissed
The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords, and as a result, the Board dismissed this issue.
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