The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell cancer of the left tonsil and tongue with left modified radical neck dissection and tonsillectomy is at least as likely as not associated with herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided by Dr. C.K., a board-certified radiation oncologist, supported the Veteran's claim that his cancer was caused by his in-service herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer of the left tonsil, left modified radical neck dissection, tonsillectomy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20022258
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 20022258.
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 his appeals for the claims of erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, right knee disability, tonsillectomy, and uvulectomy. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal, so the case is dismissed.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell cancer of the left tonsil (tonsil cancer) and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for residuals of adenocarcinoma of the lung, right upper lobe prior to October 19, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD and depressive disorder with insomnia from December 29, 2020, but denied increased ratings for the veteran's other conditions.
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