The Board found that the cause of death, esophageal adenocarcinoma, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and a service-connected disability did not substantially or materially contribute to cause his death.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion supported the conclusion that the veteran's esophageal cancer was not related to his service-connected prostate cancer and thus did not constitute a contributory cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- Esophageal adenocarcinoma, Prostate adenocarcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2004
- Citation
- 0431559
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 0431559.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of prostate cancer due to VA's failure to notify him of his April 17, 2008, elevated PSA test results and its failure to timely diagnose and properly treat his disease.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his prostate cancer, which is presumed to have been due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a review of the cause of death. The Veteran's service-connected prostate adenocarcinoma is considered, but the exact role in his death remains unclear.
- Granted
The Veteran's surviving spouse is entitled to an enhanced rate of VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits due to the Veteran being in receipt of a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for over 24 years at the time of his death.
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.