The Veteran's adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa was not present during service or within one year after discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the cancer is not related to service.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence showing adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa in service or within one year after separation from active duty, and the condition was not a presumptive disease due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for service connection is denied as there is insufficient evidence linking his current condition to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2015
- Citation
- 1508036
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 1508036.
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 ordered additional development due to the need for a VA examination and clarification of opinions provided in prior remands. The Veteran's claim for service connection for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa is being returned to the RO/AMC for further action.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding its etiology and whether it is related to service or exposure to herbicides.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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