The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil is due to exposure to herbicides in service, and thus granted service connection.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's asbestosis is due to exposure to asbestos in service, and thus granted service connection.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence shows a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil and exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The VA examiner found no direct causation but noted that current medical literature does not support causation between asbestos exposure and tonsil cancer, nor between tonsil cancer and Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, asbestosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2014
- Citation
- 1454809
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 1454809.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's asbestosis disability is rated at 100% from December 2, 2024 to January 16, 2026. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis with pleural plaques and vascular dementia as secondary to asbestosis with pleural plaques due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's asbestosis was granted an increased rating of 10 percent, but no higher. Service connection for sleep apnea was denied.
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