The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, base of tongue (throat cancer) due to exposure to ionizing radiation during active duty. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible and corroborated assertions that he was exposed to residual radiation while stationed at Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands from August 1961 to August 1962.
The deciding factor: The Board found exposure to ionizing radiation during service due to the Veteran's consistent description of his duties bringing him close proximity to residual radiation and applied the benefit of doubt doctrine.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma, base of tongue
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2024
- Citation
- A24071700
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 948 · Granted: 52% (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 A24071700.
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.
- Denied
The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, base of tongue was not received. The Veteran's claim remains denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, base of tongue, to include as due to herbicide exposure is being granted. A VA medical statement indicated that the cancer may be related to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam.
- 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.
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