The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the neck, as secondary to PTSD and due to herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion did not find a link between the squamous cell carcinoma and the service-connected PTSD or any herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the left neck
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1735057
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1735057.
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: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal because the August 2020 Decision Review Request was filed in response to a June 2020 decision that denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the left neck.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the left neck, claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The claim was also denied for a higher rating greater than 10 percent for otitis externa throughout the rating period on appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. Garcia and updated VA treatment records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the left neck and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service or herbicide exposure.
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