The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the alveolar ridge, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and service or any related conditions.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided were conflicting, with some suggesting a possible link to herbicide exposure or diabetes mellitus type II, while others found no such connection. The Board gave more weight to the August 2024 VA examiner's opinion which concluded that there is not an established relationship between the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma and service.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the alveolar ridge
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2024
- Citation
- 24033586
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 713 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24033586.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 opinion by an oncologist to address whether the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is at least as likely as not proximately due to service-connected diabetes or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected diabetes disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the alveolar ridge, finding that it is not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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