The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of tonsil cancer, status post tonsillectomy with difficulty swallowing and residual scar in the left tonsillar fossa is denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms most nearly approximated a 10 percent disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms were found to more closely approximate moderate incomplete paralysis of the tenth (pneumogastric, vagus) cranial nerve, but did not meet criteria for higher ratings under other diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- tonsil cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19164915
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 19164915.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of tonsil cancer is remanded to obtain a medical opinion on whether the condition was caused or aggravated by the veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence.
- Granted
Service connection for both tonsil cancer and prostate cancer has been granted based on the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically failing to obtain an examination for the need of aid and attendance from a VA provider. The AOJ is instructed to conduct such an examination that addresses only the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for tonsil cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C.
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