The Board remands the claims for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, malignant melanoma of the back status post excision, and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the neck status post tonsillectomy due to a need for additional development.
The deciding factor: Additional development is necessary to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including clarification on potential skin cancer diagnoses and obtaining a dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health as required under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.
- Claimed conditions
- non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (also diagnosed as B-cell neoplasm, small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia type) with acquired thrombocytopenia, malignant melanoma of the back status post excision, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the neck status post tonsillectomy (claimed as throat neoplasma)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25048040
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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