The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for injuries to the pharynx associated with residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx was denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 6516 and 6521.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms, including persistent hoarseness, inflammation of vocal cords, inflammation of mucous membrane, laryngitis with coarse voice and frequent voice breaks, pharyngitis with throat pain, daily head and neck edema, difficulty swallowing, and speech impairment, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 6516 or 6521.
- Claimed conditions
- injuries to the pharynx, residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070223
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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