The Veteran's tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis is presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating for PTSD, effective from April 12, 2013, and grants a TDIU rating prior to February 25, 2010.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports a link between the Veteran's tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis and his exposure to Agent Orange during service. For PTSD, the Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating based on occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as flattened affect, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and memory impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2016
- Citation
- 1605475
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 1605475.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during his time in Vietnam.
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