The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and left foot hallux valgus deformity and hammer toes are not service-connected. The claims were denied as there is no persuasive evidence of herbicide exposure during service, which would be required for presumptive service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide credible evidence to support his claim that he was exposed to herbicide agents in service, either directly or through secondary exposure from handling contaminated equipment. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding possible herbicide exposure insufficient to establish actual exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx, left foot hallux valgus deformity and hammer toes
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2017
- Citation
- 1759909
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 1759909.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx, finding it at least as likely as not that the condition was caused by exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's oropharyngeal cancer is related to herbicide exposure in service. The VA examiner needs to address the Veteran’s history of smoking and quitting.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's herbicide exposure and HPV status, which are key factors in determining whether his cancer is related to service.
- Denied
The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx is related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence weighs against the claim.
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