The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with metastasis, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and not related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board also determined that the veteran did not have a service-connected disability that contributed substantially or materially to his death.
The deciding factor: The cause of the veteran's death (squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with metastasis) was not caused by a service-connected disability, nor did any service-connected disability contribute substantially or materially to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, melanoma of the right mandible, basal cell carcinoma of the left ear and the right tricep
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 4, 2003
- Citation
- 0302111
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 0302111.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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