The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, including as due to exposure to herbicides, has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the appeal process.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's death rendered the appeal moot and jurisdiction was lost.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2015
- Citation
- 1505439
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 1505439.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his Hodgkin's lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth were not related to his military service or any asbestos exposure therein.
- Partly granted
The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence, but remains unable to decide on the merits as there is no direct evidence linking the cancer to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for cause of the Veteran's death was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus restoring service connection.
- Granted
The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a lumbar spine disability and squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, with consideration given to the Veteran's credible statements regarding in-service injuries and continuity of symptomatology.
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