The Veteran's buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma with cancer of the tongue and osteoradionecrosis of the jaw are granted service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The cancers were found to be caused by this exposure, and the osteoradionecrosis is secondary to treatment for the cancers.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cancers were linked to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, which was presumed due to service records showing his presence there.
- Claimed conditions
- buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma with cancer of the tongue, osteoradionecrosis of the jaw
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2024
- Citation
- A24053420
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 A24053420.
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 has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma due to in-service herbicide agent exposure and for osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, peristalsis condition, and scars as secondary to squamous cell carcinoma.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma with osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, finding that the evidence did not reach equipoise in support of the claim and concluding that it is less likely than not related to military service, including exposure to herbicide agents, lead, and asbestos.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand this case due to the need for a clarification of the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s squamous cell carcinoma and osteoradionecrosis of the jaw are related to service, including exposure to lead, asbestos, or herbicide agents.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is a soft-tissue sarcoma, which would allow for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Veteran needs an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding this issue.
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