The Board granted service connection for mouth, throat, and esophagus cancer based on an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence indicating the cancers were incurred in service.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion supported a link between the Veteran's cancer and his in-service exposure to diesel and asbestos fibers, despite some conflicting VA opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- mouth cancer, throat cancer, esophagus cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25045459
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for throat cancer to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and his development of throat cancer.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for throat cancer to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing on his supplemental claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for throat cancer due to a pre-decisional error in not verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure to toxic materials.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for prostate and throat cancers due to a lack of proper development regarding potential exposures to PFAS and herbicides during active duty.
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