The Board found that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service, and granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found that damage to the saliva glands and taste buds are secondary to the service-connected squamous cell carcinoma.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion established a link between the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and his Vietnam-era herbicide exposure, which is presumed under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the left base of the tongue, damage to the saliva glands, dysgeusia (damage to taste buds), trouble breathing
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2009
- Citation
- 0947037
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 0947037.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Veteran's right hip pain, muscle spasms, Bell's palsy, trouble breathing, and shaving profile/skin condition are all granted service connection. However, the claims for muscle spasms, Bell's palsy, trouble breathing, and shaving profile/skin condition were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for trouble breathing and coughs is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the December 2024 rating decision. The AOJ must develop his TERA participation, obtain private medical records, and schedule a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tendinitis, left ankle and denied service connection for a heart murmur. Several claims were remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and somatic symptom disorder. The claims for chest pain, trouble breathing, cervical strain, left hip strain, right hip strain, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, and right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis were remanded for further evaluation.
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