The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) to include PTSD, a skin disorder other than chloracne, and chloracne/skin rash. The decision was based on the presumption that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck is not related to his active military service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2011
- Citation
- 1112994
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 1112994.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam. The claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck and ischemic heart disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, finding that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his service and that squamous cell carcinoma is not among the diseases covered by the presumption.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.
- Denied
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck was not manifested during service or within one year of separation and is not attributable to an in-service disease or injury, including herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck and reactive lymphadenitis, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.