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 assigned
- None in this 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 vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0308550.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.