The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil (claimed as throat cancer) based on herbicide exposure, finding that there was no evidence linking his condition to active service or any incident therein, including herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disability did not manifest within one year after separation from service and that it is not related to his active service or any incident therein, including herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2009
- Citation
- 0913354
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 0913354.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil status post radical neck dissection is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology. The claims for secondary service connection for right arm muscle loss and residuals of fractured right jaw with loss of teeth are also remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claim for service connection for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil based on herbicide exposure was remanded due to insufficient notice and a need for an examination.
- Denied
The veteran's metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer to service.
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