The Board has denied service connection for various cancers and lymph node conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service or any presumptive exposure. The cancers were diagnosed many years after separation from service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's service and his current diagnoses, including cancers and lymph node conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma, malignant neoplasm of a lymph node of the face, malignant neoplasm of the lymph node of the head, malignant neoplasm of a lymph node of the neck, pulmonary nodule of the right lung
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 1, 2024
- Citation
- 24005121
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 24005121.
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 restoration of the 100 percent disability rating for right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma and denied restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for loss of teeth with rampant decay, while also granting restoration of special monthly compensation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, pulmonary nodule of the right lung, bilateral pterygium, and residuals of closed rib fracture with associated keloid scar are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service and noting that smoking tobacco use is a known risk factor for this type of cancer.
- Denied
The Veteran's right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma is not service-connected as it did not occur during his military service and there is no evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim based on lack of in-service disease or injury, absence of a current disability related to service, and insufficient evidence to link the cancer to service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.