The Board found that squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsillar fossa did not manifest in service or within one year of service and is not attributable to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied as there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran had no serious injuries or illnesses indicative of squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar fossa while in active service and found that the cancer did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The medical records also showed no evidence linking the current condition to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsillar fossa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2018
- Citation
- 1816943
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 1816943.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsillar fossa, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his condition and his in-service exposure to Agent Orange or any other service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsillar fossa due to his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The case is being returned for further development and readjudication based on a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsillar fossa and his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsillar fossa, which may be linked to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.
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