The Veteran's appeal for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and hypopharynx was dismissed due to his death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, making it impossible for the Board to adjudicate the merits of the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, hypopharynx
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19167169
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 19167169.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 2021, for the award of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and related disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and assigned a 20 percent evaluation, but denied service connection for osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, neurocognitive disorder with Alzheimer's, hypertension, and TDIU.
- Granted
The veteran's claim for service connection of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is granted. The decision was based on evidence showing that the cancer is related to in-service exposures to Agent Orange and asbestos.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to a muscle injury, left shoulder tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain is dismissed. Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, cancer of the lymph nodes secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, hypothyroidism secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, and a scar of the right neck secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is granted. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is also granted.
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