The Veteran's service-connected squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa, post surgical scar on the left side of the neck (with painful status), and painful status post surgical scar on the left side of the neck are all rated at 50 percent effective January 9, 2006. The Veteran's service-connected fatigue is granted as a separate rating under Diagnostic Code 6354. The Veteran's service-connected hyposmia and hypogeusia have maximum schedular ratings.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa, post surgical scar on the left side of the neck (with painful status), and painful status post surgical scar on the left side of the neck meet the percentage requirements for a 50 percent rating effective January 9, 2006.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsillar fossa, fatigue, hypogeusia (loss of sense of taste), post surgical scar on the left side of the neck, painful status post surgical scar on the left side of the neck
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- June 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19146419
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a disability manifested by fatigue, finding no evidence of the condition and attributing the Veteran's symptoms to other known diagnoses.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for fatigue and an initial rating above 10 percent for reactive airway disease, as the evidence did not support a finding of chronic fatigue or a disability that warranted a higher rating based on pulmonary function test results.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to address service connection and rating issues.
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