The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is found to be at least as likely as not related to environmental exposures during service in Vietnam, specifically exposure to burn pits. Service connection for the condition is granted.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the Veteran's exposure to burn pits and contaminants in Vietnam played a significant role in his development of squamous cell carcinoma.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and throat, removal of all neck lymph nodes on both sides and a muscle left side of neck (squamous cell carcinoma)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2024
- Citation
- A24064913
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 749 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A24064913.
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 remands the issues of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and throat, other accrued benefits, service connection for any disease presumed to be due to exposure to tactical herbicides, and an earlier effective date for coronary artery disease for further development.
- 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.
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