The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is related to his in-service radiation exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.,The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there are no documented esophageal stricture symptoms.,Service connection for thoracic ascending aortic aneurysm remains remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and need for updated VA TERA memorandum and examination.,Service connection for asthma and COPD is also remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and need for updated VA TERA memorandum and examination.,The Veteran's asbestosis claim remains on hold pending resolution of the remaining claims.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is related to his in-service radiation exposure, which meets the criteria for service connection.,There are no documented esophageal stricture symptoms, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,The pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors require an updated VA TERA memorandum and examination to address the Veteran's conceded radiation exposure and other toxic exposures.,The pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors require an updated VA TERA memorandum and examination to address the Veteran's conceded radiation exposure and other toxic exposures.,Pending resolution of the remaining claims, the asbestosis claim remains on hold.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with Barrett's esophagus, thoracic ascending aortic aneurysm, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asbestosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Ionizing radiation
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26018444
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 A26018444.
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 squamous cell carcinoma is granted as secondary to his service-connected eczema and psoriasis. The initial compensable evaluation for toenail psoriasis remains denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's asbestosis disability is rated at 100% from December 2, 2024 to January 16, 2026. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot.
- 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.
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