The Veteran's pharyngeal (throat) cancer disability is denied as it was not incurred in service and cannot be presumed due to Camp Lejeune exposure. The neurological disability, excluding migraine headache, is also denied as it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.,The Veteran's colon disability remains pending and will need further review.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding that contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused an increased risk of developing head and neck cancers, including pharyngeal cancer. The Veteran’s history of chewing tobacco use was also considered as a potential cause for his current diagnosis.,There is no evidence of the claimed neurological disabilities until multiple years after service, and they are not otherwise related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Pharyngeal (Throat) Cancer, Neurological Disability, excluding Migraine Headache Disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26035230
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 A26035230.
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.
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- Dismissed
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- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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