The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal cavity, with metastatic lymph node cancer of the neck and squamous cell cancer of the left alveolar ridge are granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents. His bilateral hearing loss disability is also granted as it was proximately caused by a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The cancers were related to Agent Orange exposure, and his hearing loss was secondary to treatment for the cancers.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal cavity, metastatic lymph node cancer of the neck, squamous cell cancer of the left alveolar ridge, bilateral hearing loss disability, headache disorder, hypertension, colon cancer, left upper extremity nerve damage, right upper extremity nerve damage, right lower extremity nerve damage
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19181309
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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