The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the right vocal cord warrant a 10 percent disability rating, effective from June 8, 2010.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed moderate, chronic hoarseness and incomplete organic aphonia as residual effects of the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma. These symptoms were found to be adequately described by the applicable rating criteria for laryngitis (Diagnostic Code 6516).
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right vocal cord
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 6, 2015
- Citation
- 1528821
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 1528821.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the right vocal cord was denied as his claim was received more than one year after separation from active duty.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected squamous cell carcinoma of the right vocal cord is rated at 30 percent, effective March 28, 2003. The RO has granted a separate 10 percent rating for reflux laryngitis residuals and a separate 10 percent rating for nasal obstruction secondary to radiation therapy since June 3, 2010.
- Denied
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right vocal cord, characterized as hoarseness, has not resulted in thickening or nodules on the cords, polyps, submucous infiltration, or pre-malignant changes on biopsy. Therefore, he is not entitled to a rating higher than 10 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining SSA disability records.
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