The Board denied the veteran's claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, finding that there was no basis to grant these benefits due to a lack of service-connected disability at the time of death.
The deciding factor: The veteran died from complications related to rectal cancer, which was not service-connected. The Board determined that he did not meet the eligibility criteria for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 as his spouse did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability while alive.
- Claimed conditions
- rectal cancer, small bowel obstruction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2003
- Citation
- 0330506
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 0330506.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis, small bowel obstruction, to include small bowel perforation, status post left hemicolectomy, Hartman's pouch and ileostomy (bowel condition), as well as right and left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence linking rectal cancer to his active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for rectal cancer and various types of neuropathy, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rectal cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his in-service radiation exposure and his current condition. The claim for service connection for mitral valve prolapse was remanded for further development.
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