The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.
The deciding factor: The examiner needs to clarify the origin of the Veteran's condition and opine whether it began in-service, including his presumed exposure to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, laryngeal cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2024
- Citation
- A24036773
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 A24036773.
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 diabetes mellitus type II has been granted an increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the left lower extremity.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has also been granted an increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the right lower extremity.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and laryngeal cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for cause of death due to laryngeal cancer is dismissed as moot. The appeal for hypertension secondary to salivary gland injury is denied. Service connection for hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's laryngeal cancer and its connection to service, specifically Agent Orange exposure.
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