The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, finding that it was less likely than not caused by herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The May 2016 VHA medical opinion found that there is less than a 50% probability that the Veteran's tonsil cancer was incurred in or caused by service, including as due to herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2016
- Citation
- 1635706
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 1635706.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a new VA medical opinion addressing all of the Veteran's claimed in-service toxic exposures, including herbicide agents, asbestos, concrete dust, burning waste, asphalt, and related chemicals.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection of squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil due to toxic exposure in service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there was no prior claim filed before October 14, 2019.,New evidence has been received to support the service connection claims for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil and adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. These claims are now granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue as secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).
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