The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression aggravated his oral lichen planus, warranting service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct causal relationship between the service-connected PTSD and the development of oral cancer.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no causative relationship between the service-connected PTSD and the development of oral cancer, but acknowledged that stress may have played a role in aggravating the Veteran's pre-existing oral lichen planus.
- Claimed conditions
- oral lichen planus, oral cancer
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2012
- Citation
- 1238156
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 1238156.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and oral lichen planus as there was pre-decisional error in not obtaining addendum medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for hypertension and dismissed the appeal for service connection for oral cancer. The claims for a compensable rating for migraine headaches and service connection for oral cancer were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for oral cancer/facial skin cancer and an initial compensable rating for actinic keratosis due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded additional issues related to oral cancer and larynx cancer.
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.