The Board denied service connection for right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma with right neck metastasis due to Agent Orange exposure, as well as secondary service connection for jawbone implantation, speech impediment, throat scarring, facial scarring, and bone graft scar right leg and skin graft scar left leg.,The denial is based on the lack of a link between the Veteran's conditions and his in-service herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that there was less than a 50% chance that the Veteran’s tonsillar carcinoma was related to Agent Orange exposure, considering his other risk factors such as tobacco use and alcohol consumption. The Board found this opinion more probative due to its consideration of specific risk factors in the Veteran's case.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Tonsil Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Right Neck Metastasis, Jawbone Implantation, Speech Impediment, Throat Scarring, Facial Scarring, Bone Graft Scar Right Leg, Skin Graft Scar Left Leg
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20057949
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 20057949.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for facial scarring, left and right foot disabilities, left and right ankle disabilities, left knee, left hip, and left shoulder disabilities, as well as left and right wrist disabilities. The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for facial scarring, and thus remands the case for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone meets the criteria for a single disability rated at 100 percent, and his other disabilities combine to meet or exceed a 60 percent rating. Therefore, SMC at the housebound rate is granted from December 2, 2019, to May 23, 2021.
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