The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is well grounded, but denied due to lack of evidence linking the esophageal cancer to exposure to Agent Orange or any other service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: There was no specific diagnosis mentioned as to whether or not the veteran had an adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus that were quite different conditions, and there is no documentary evidence that the veteran's cancer of the esophagus was a direct result of exposure to Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic carcinoma of the esophagus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 9, 2000
- Citation
- 0020762
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0020762.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and DIC benefits due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran died from metastatic carcinoma of the esophagus, which was not service-connected. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the esophageal cancer to his military service or exposure to herbicides.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was caused by esophageal cancer, which the VA does not consider to be related to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure. The case is being remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.
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