The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his oropharyngeal cancer, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.
The deciding factor: The private physician provided a rationale linking the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange with his oropharyngeal cancer and subsequent death.
- Claimed conditions
- Pharyngeal cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2015
- Citation
- 1506958
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1506958.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for pharyngeal cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to ionizing radiation during active duty.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was due to pharyngeal cancer, which he developed after VA failed to timely diagnose and treat his prostate cancer. The case is being remanded for further investigation of the timing and appropriateness of the medical care provided.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran died of respiratory failure caused by pharyngeal cancer or a soft tissue sarcoma that was related to his exposure to Agent Orange. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and an opinion on the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or contributed to his death from cardiogenic shock, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, prostate cancer, and pharyngeal cancer.
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