The Board has determined that the Veteran's current squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil with metastases to the lymph nodes is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for these conditions cannot be granted as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active duty.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records were negative for complaints, diagnoses, or treatment of tonsil and lymph node cancer. The Board finds the Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptomatology less credible than the lack of medical evidence showing such symptoms prior to his diagnosis in 2006.
- Claimed conditions
- cancer of the tonsils, cancer of the lymph nodes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2011
- Citation
- 1123097
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1123097.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further proceedings due to errors in notice and a need to provide the Veteran with information about his right to a hearing.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for cancer of the lymph nodes to obtain an adequate medical opinion.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for skin cancer and cancer of the lymph nodes, finding that both conditions are related to in-service radiation exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for cancer of the esophagus and stomach, cancer of the lymph nodes, and lung cancer as they are not etiologically related to active service and did not have their onset during service.
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