The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, finding that it is not related to military service, including presumed herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions found no positive nexus between the Veteran's cancer and his military service, particularly due to smoking history and conflicting studies regarding Agent Orange's impact on viral infections.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19172525
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19172525.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cancer is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure, but a VA examiner must provide an opinion on the medical probability of this relationship.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, which is presumed related to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran needs an examination by an oncologist with expertise in this area.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx is related to his active service, particularly exposure to herbicide agents.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further development regarding the relationship between the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx and his military service, including herbicide agent exposure.
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