The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tongue base with neck metastasis is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his disability and his acknowledged exposure to herbicides in service.
The deciding factor: The AOJ did not obtain a medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's disability, even though the evidence indicated a nexus with his service exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of right tongue base with neck metastasis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2024
- Citation
- A24067167
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,762 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24067167.
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
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