The Veteran's metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma is granted as service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia and trigeminal and hypoglossal cranial neuropathy are secondary to his metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma, which is also service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia, and trigeminal and hypoglossal cranial neuropathy as secondary to his cancer is granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma was related to exposure at Camp Lejeune, which is presumed due to contaminated water.,The private medical opinions supported by Dr. M.M. indicated that the Veteran's GERD/hiatal hernia and trigeminal and hypoglossal cranial neuropathy were caused by his metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma treatment.,Service connection was granted for all conditions as secondary to the service-connected metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia, trigeminal and hypoglossal cranial neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2021
- Citation
- 21077076
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 21077076.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased 30 percent evaluation for gastric ulcer, GERD/hiatal hernia, and gastritis from May 23, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating due to lack of evidence showing diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease/hiatal hernia was denied because it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not etiologically related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The Veteran's skin cancer claim was remanded due to the PACT Act requiring VA to provide an examination and medical opinion regarding its relationship to herbicide agent exposure.,The Board found that new evidence from the PACT Act required a de novo review of the skin cancer service connection claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The claims are now pending and need further review by a VA examiner.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals in a written statement.
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