The Board granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, palate, and lymph nodes under the PACT Act and hypothyroidism as secondary to that condition. Sinusitis was denied.
The deciding factor: Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, palate, and lymph nodes is granted based on presumed exposure to burn pits during service in Southwest Asia after August 2, 1990. Hypothyroidism is granted as secondary to that condition due to radiation treatment. Sinusitis was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.
- Claimed conditions
- hypothyroidism, sinusitis, squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, palate, and lymph nodes
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25050964
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 857 · Granted: 35% (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 A25050964.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the case back to the AOJ for proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is being remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
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