The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and cervical lymph node metastatic disease, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's Agent Orange exposure. The decision also acknowledges a link between the Veteran's PTSD and his use of tobacco and alcohol, which contributed to his cancer development.
The deciding factor: The evidence is approximately evenly balanced regarding whether the Veteran's cancers were proximately due to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse and tobacco use, but the Board has granted service connection based on Agent Orange exposure as a presumptive condition.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma, floor of mouth, metastatic disease, cervical lymph nodes
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22028271
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 22028271.
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 of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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