The Veteran's right tonsillar cancer, presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange during service, is granted for accrued benefits purposes. The cause of the Veteran's death was also found to be related to his service-connected right tonsillar cancer.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right tonsillar cancer was determined to be a result of herbicide exposure in Vietnam and thus presumed service connected. As it caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death, both accrued benefits for the condition and cause of death are granted.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right retromolar trigone/right tonsil (right tonsillar cancer), respiratory cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2016
- Citation
- 1641074
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 1641074.
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: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tonsillar cancer (claimed as throat and respiratory cancer) due to a lack of evidence showing that his condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury or disease, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for respiratory cancer as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected throat cancer.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for new VA medical opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory cancer and skin cancer, as well as further development regarding potential exposures in service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a respiratory cancer of any type, lymphoma, and sarcoidosis as the evidence did not demonstrate current diagnoses or a nexus to active duty.
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