The veteran's nasopharyngeal cancer, left ear disorder (including middle ear effusion, intermittent tinnitus, ear blockage, and hearing loss), and dry mouth and throat dysphagia were all granted service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence demonstrated that it was as likely as not that the veteran's conditions were proximately due to or aggravated by radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer, which itself was presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- nasopharyngeal cancer, left ear disorder (including middle ear effusion, intermittent tinnitus, ear blockage, and hearing loss), dry mouth and throat, dysphagia
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2008
- Citation
- 0811586
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for dysphagia and remanded the claims for residuals from a colon tumor, gallbladder removal, papillary urethral carcinoma, and heart disability due to potential exposure to herbicide agents and ionizing radiation.
- Granted
The Veteran's dysphagia, diaphragmatic hernia without obstruction or gangrene, and GERD were granted a 30 percent rating from June 30, 2022.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all service connection claims for additional development, including obtaining a TERA memorandum and new medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a VA medical opinion to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's nasopharyngeal cancer, including whether it is related to his service or exposure to herbicide agents.
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