The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not considering a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine's (NAS) 2014 report which discusses that some oral cavity cancers have a viral HPV etiology consistent with the hypothesis that herbicide exposure may have increased susceptibility to HPV. The Veteran is asked to be examined for toxic exposure risk activities and an opinion on whether his squamous cell carcinoma is related to Agent Orange exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found the August 2022 VA examination inadequate as it did not discuss specific findings in the 2014 NAS report regarding increased susceptibility to HPV infection due to herbicide exposure, leading to a higher likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 5, 2024
- Citation
- A24043590
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 A24043590.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for squamous cell cancer and denied the claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for implanted cardiac pacemaker, and several other conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding the adequacy of VA medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for neuropathy, a sinus disability, squamous cell cancer, and COPD due to the need for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for squamous cell cancer, considering it presumptively related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.
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