The Veteran's service connection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is granted. The Board also remanded several secondary service connection claims as they are inextricably intertwined with the grant of service connection for NPC.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had a diagnosis of NPC, and his treating oncologist opined that it was more likely than not caused by his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), brain cancer, memory loss, lethargy, hair loss, hearing loss, tinnitus, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, tremors, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, scarring
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2024
- Citation
- A24056142
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 A24056142.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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