The veteran's death was determined to be due to abdominal cancer, which the Board found to have been incurred during service. The appellant is therefore eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
The deciding factor: The Board concluded that the veteran's fatal abdominal cancer began during his period of active service and was a result of a service-connected disability, thus granting eligibility for DEA under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
- Claimed conditions
- abdominal cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 29, 2003
- Citation
- 0321917
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 0321917.
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 has remanded the claims for further development regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and abdominal cancer due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's exposure history needs to be verified, including potential exposure to commercial herbicides with formulations of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T that are distinct from tactical herbicide agents.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and abdominal cancer due to herbicide exposure (including TCDD dioxin) as insufficient development was done. The Veteran served at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam where he claimed exposure to herbicides.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, and abdominal cancer due to lack of clarity in audiometric results from January 1967 to December 1970 and insufficient verification of herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for further development.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions and denied both claims for accrued benefits. The cause of death was abdominal cancer, which is not shown to be related to service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.