The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous carcinoma of the tonsil, claimed as oropharynx cancer, finding that it did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The decision also noted conflicting opinions regarding whether exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam may have contributed to the development of the condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's squamous carcinoma of the tonsil to his military service, including any potential link to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous carcinoma of the tonsil, oropharynx cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20033707
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 20033707.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new evidence supports the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for oropharynx cancer, and finds that exposure to PFOS and PFAS during active duty is at least as likely as not related to the development of the Veteran's oropharynx cancer. Service connection is therefore granted.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for scars resulting from surgery for malignant melanoma incurred during active duty service and remanded the other claims for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal concerning compensation for service-connected oropharynx cancer is remanded because the VA did not provide an audit of payments. The Board will consider new evidence in the future.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as they significantly restrict his movements, impair his ability to focus on work tasks, and cause frequent bathroom breaks.
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