The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for kidney cancer, status post right nephrectomy. The examiner is required to address whether there is a relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed renal cell carcinoma and his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria to grant the service connection claim due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between the claimed kidney cancer and the in-service TERA. The PACT Act requires VA to provide an examination and medical opinion for certain non-presumptive diseases involving toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).
- Claimed conditions
- kidney cancer, renal cell carcinoma right kidney
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24056700
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 A24056700.
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 decided to remand the claims for service connection for kidney cancer and chronic kidney disease due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is required to conduct further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified VA examiner regarding the Veteran's exposure to in-service toxic exposures involving fire smoke.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer and lung cancer due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his kidney cancer, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The claim for lung cancer is inextricably intertwined with the kidney cancer claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection for kidney cancer, specifically whether it is aggravated by service-connected hypertension and diabetes. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining medical opinions and private treatment records.
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