The Board denied service connection for squamous cell cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service or herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions were against a causal relationship between the Veteran's head and neck cancer and his in-service herbicide agent exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell cancer
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20074149
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for squamous cell cancer and denied the claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for implanted cardiac pacemaker, and several other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for neuropathy, a sinus disability, squamous cell cancer, and COPD due to the need for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for squamous cell cancer, considering it presumptively related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.
- Partly granted
The appeal for multiple myeloma was dismissed due to withdrawal. The appeal for squamous cell cancer was remanded for further examination.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.