The Board has granted service connection for throat cancer as secondary to environmental hazards exposure, but denied an increased rating for major depressive disorder.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on multiple medical opinions linking the Veteran's throat cancer to his asbestos and water contamination exposures during military service. The claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied due to lack of evidence demonstrating total social and occupational impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- throat cancer
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20073937
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 Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for throat cancer to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and his development of throat cancer.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for throat cancer to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing on his supplemental claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for throat cancer due to a pre-decisional error in not verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure to toxic materials.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for prostate and throat cancers due to a lack of proper development regarding potential exposures to PFAS and herbicides during active duty.
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