The Board has determined that a squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue is attributable to service, and grants the claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the veteran's squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue was incurred as a result of his active service, with no other known risk factors except exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Board finds this evidence in favor of the claim and grants it.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2003
- Citation
- 0308550
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0308550.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about VA's care and potential secondary service connection for prostate cancer. The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the head, neck, and tongue is being reviewed for possible direct service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue is not service-connected, as it was not caused by or related to his military service. The claim for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's throat cancer is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, but not due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the cancer may be linked to herbicide exposure and to obtain updated treatment records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma and his service, including presumed herbicide exposure or service-connected prostate cancer. The condition was diagnosed many years after discharge.
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