The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes and skin cancer due to a failure to obtain adequate opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the veteran's exposure to toxic substances during service, including asbestos, PFAs, drinking water chemicals, and a burn pit. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the current diagnoses are at least as likely as not caused by these exposures.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was a failure to obtain adequate opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected conditions and his exposure to toxic substances during service, including asbestos, PFAs, drinking water chemicals, and a burn pit. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether these exposures are at least as likely as not causing the current diagnoses.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes), basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2024
- Citation
- A24076317
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 A24076317.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which he claims was caused by exposure to water-based contaminants at Camp Lejeune during his military service.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis as the appeal is considered duplicative of a previous decision.
- Partly granted
The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for neoplasm hard and soft tissue of the mouth was improper, as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding the cause of the condition. The Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.
- Granted
The Veteran's lung cancer and brain tumor are granted service connection, while his basal cell carcinoma (claimed as multiple myeloma) is denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Guam or elsewhere during active duty.
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