The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the head and back, mouth and neck cancer with loss of teeth and gums, and hands were found to be at least as likely as not related to his herbicide exposure. Service connection for these conditions is granted.
The deciding factor: Private medical opinions linked the Veteran's squamous cell carcinomas to his service-connected herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the head and back, squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and neck with loss of teeth and gums, squamous cell carcinoma of the left hand, squamous cell carcinoma of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2024
- Citation
- A24082999
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 A24082999.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the current appeals as they have become moot.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and skin cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during his service in Thailand. The Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange as a result of his active duty in Thailand.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed prostate cancer, benign thyroid nodules, posterior subcapsular cataract of the left eye, squamous cell carcinoma of the left hand, and anemia are not related to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Denied
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right hand was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence to support a finding that it is related to exposure to herbicides while serving in the Republic of Vietnam. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, is addressed in the REMAND portion.
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