The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, finding that it was not a respiratory cancer and thus not related to exposure to herbicides.
The deciding factor: VA physicians provided conflicting opinions regarding whether the veteran's cancer constituted a respiratory cancer. The July 2004 VA physician found the cancer did not constitute a respiratory cancer for VA purposes based on differences in tissue types above and below the vocal cords.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma, right tonsil
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2005
- Citation
- 0522493
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 0522493.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, right tonsil is denied. Other issues are remanded for further review.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran is seeking service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, claiming it is related to exposure to herbicides during his military service. The case has been remanded due to a need for further review by the RO.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
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