The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil, with left lymph node metastasis status post left radical tonsillectomy and neck dissection is related to exposure to an herbicide agent during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's tonsil cancer was caused by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, which is presumed due to his service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil, left lymph node metastasis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19117564
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 961 · Granted: 20% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19117564.
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.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil is not related to his active service, including any in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, left tonsil, status post surgery is dismissed as the January 2001 rating decision has become final.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil due to herbicide exposure is being remanded for additional development, including verification of potential exposure at Nam Phong, Thailand.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil is related to herbicide exposure during service. The case will be returned for further review.
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