The Board granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma based on the Veteran's toxic exposures in service.
The deciding factor: The Board gave more weight to Dr. C.K.'s opinion that the Veteran's SCC was at least as likely as not related to his toxic exposures, including herbicides and UV radiation, during service over the negative VA opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25105615
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 869 · Granted: 44% (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 A25105615.
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 claims for a skin disability and hernias to obtain additional medical opinions, as the previous VA examinations are found insufficient.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to a pre-decisional error, and will consider any additional evidence submitted when the claim is readjudicated. The issue of service connection for SCC is not currently before the Board.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining a new VA examination regarding the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lip, specifically related to in-service sun exposure and/or conceded in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection based on his reported noise exposure during service. Service connection for hearing loss and prostate cancer were denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for disability, while the colostomy associated with prostate cancer was also denied.
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