The Board found that the veteran's cancer of the tongue and lymph nodes of the neck were incurred in service due to nicotine dependence, which is presumed as a result of smoking during military service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.
The deciding factor: Nicotine dependence caused by smoking in service was determined to be related to the veteran's current cancer diagnoses.
- Claimed conditions
- cancer of the tongue, lymph nodes of the neck
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2004
- Citation
- 0434301
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 0434301.
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 remands the claims for service connection for bilateral lung cancer, cancer of the tongue, and malignant tumor of tonsil and squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx to obtain a new VA opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding service connection for cancer of the tongue due to environmental exposures during service, including brake pad dust, diesel fuel, cleaning solvents, and artillery blast powder. The Veteran's smoking history is also considered.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory cancer and its relation to herbicide exposure. The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for cancer of the left tonsil and tongue, which he contends was caused by exposure to herbicide agents during service, is being remanded due to a lack of a VA medical opinion on the nature and etiology of his condition.
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