The Board granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and throat, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The evidence was in approximate balance regarding a nexus between the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicides and burn pits and his current squamous cell carcinoma disability, leading to a grant of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and throat
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- October 10, 2024
- 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 granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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