The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, finding that there is no positive association between exposure to herbicides and this condition. The opinion relied on by the prior decision was overturned as it pertained to a different disease.
The deciding factor: Service connection cannot be granted based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange due to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' determination that there is no positive association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
- Claimed conditions
- nasopharyngeal carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 2, 2008
- Citation
- 0841261
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 0841261.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to exposure to herbicides in service, including Agent Orange.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the award of service connection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on the Veteran's claim being filed within one year of the PACT Act's passage.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied a compensable rating for papillary thyroid carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but granted service connection for vocal cord paralysis and odynophagia as additional residual disabilities due to the service-connected nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of mouth trauma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and medical opinions.
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