The Board has denied the reduction in disability rating for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx from 100% to 10%, and has remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for dysphagia.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx were originally rated 10% under Diagnostic Code 6819 effective June 1, 2015. An October 2015 rating decision granted service connection for the pharynx as secondary to SCC. As such, the RO combined the original service connection for residuals of SCC with the pharynx.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, injuries to the pharynx
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19140395
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 23% (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 19140395.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, finding that it is related to presumed herbicide agent exposure during active duty service. The decision is based on medical opinions and evidence from a study showing higher rates of oral cavity and pharynx cancer in Korean and Australian Vietnam veterans.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and base of the tongue, finding that it is etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with tobacco and alcohol use disorders.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for injuries to the pharynx associated with residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx was denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 6516 and 6521.
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