The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange, during his Blue Water Navy service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a relationship between the Veteran's right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma and presumed herbicide exposure, particularly when resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 19, 2021
- Citation
- 21030738
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21030738.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a new VA medical opinion addressing all of the Veteran's claimed in-service toxic exposures, including herbicide agents, asbestos, concrete dust, burning waste, asphalt, and related chemicals.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection of squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil due to toxic exposure in service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there was no prior claim filed before October 14, 2019.,New evidence has been received to support the service connection claims for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil and adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. These claims are now granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue as secondary to squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).
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