The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell cancer of the tonsils, finding that it was caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's squamous cell cancer is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service herbicide exposure, with dioxin being proven to cause many types of cancer and tonsillar cancer being extremely rare, with herbicides being the most likely cause of the Veteran’s cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer of the tonsils
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20031395
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 20031395.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's squamous cell cancer of the tonsils is not eligible for service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The Board has ordered remand to obtain an addendum opinion from VA and private medical records.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's squamous cell cancer of the tonsils was incurred in active service, and granted service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
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