The Veteran's service-connected dysphonia is granted a 60 percent rating for the entire appeal period, as his condition has remained constant with no significant change in his ability to speak above a whisper since his operation in September 2010.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria of a 6519 (aphonia) under DC 6518 for the entire appeal period, as evidenced by consistent medical records and testimony indicating no significant change in his aphonic whisper since 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- dysphonia, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- October 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18146126
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 18146126.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of various conditions related to lung cancer, including scars, pain, and hearing loss, but denied an earlier effective date for non-small cell lung cancer itself.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 60 percent evaluation for dysphonia based on the Veteran's inability to speak above a whisper and its impact on his ability to work.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a throat condition to schedule an appropriate VA compensation examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed throat condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to obtain the original signed consent document for a neck surgery in March 2022. The veteran claims VA negligence caused vocal cord paralysis and dysphonia.
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