The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's laryngeal cancer and its connection to service, specifically Agent Orange exposure.
The deciding factor: The examiner did not consider or discuss the Veteran's statements from his treating clinicians indicating a potential link between his toxic exposures in service and the development of his cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- laryngeal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the neck
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2026
- Citation
- 26000097
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 26000097.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has been granted an increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the left lower extremity.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has also been granted an increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the right lower extremity.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and laryngeal cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for cause of death due to laryngeal cancer is dismissed as moot. The appeal for hypertension secondary to salivary gland injury is denied. Service connection for hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for laryngeal cancer and a heart disability to the agency of original jurisdiction for further development.
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