The claim for service connection for the cause of death is not well grounded due to lack of evidence linking adenocarcinoma of the cecum with liver metastasis to service.,The claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also not well grounded as it depends on a finding that the veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence showing adenocarcinoma of the cecum with liver metastasis occurred during or within one year after service, and there is no medical opinion linking this condition to service.,The veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was not found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- adenocarcinoma of the cecum, nodular lymphohistiocytic (non-Hodgkin's) lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2000
- Citation
- 0028621
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 0028621.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 of service connection for cause of death and DIC benefits due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ is instructed to develop the Veteran's potential exposures in service, including exposure to asbestos, jet fuel, herbicide agents, and possible radiation-risk activities. Medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his active service or service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to herbicide exposure, finding that none of the conditions listed on his death certificate were incurred in or related to his active military service.,The Board also denied the appellant's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for her husband's death, concluding that there was no evidence of VA negligence or fault in causing the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his cancer to military service or any incident therein.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of service and obtaining VA and SSA records. If Vietnam service is verified, a VA oncological examination will be arranged to determine if the veteran's adenocarcinoma of the cecum is related to Agent Orange exposure.
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