The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the left neck lymph node, finding that it did not have its clinical onset in service or within one year of service separation and was not otherwise related to active duty, including as a result of presumed herbicide agent exposure therein. The Board also found that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected acne vulgaris.
The deciding factor: The VHA expert opinion indicated that there is no well-established relationship between unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma and herbicide agent exposure, and the Veteran's presentation and course of disease were not atypical for this type of cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the left neck lymph node
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2017
- Citation
- 1744881
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 1744881.
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: Denied
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is not related to his service or any service-connected disability, and the claim for service connection is denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and sinus disorder, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma and sinus condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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