The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to new and material evidence. The medical opinion provided a dose estimate based on a scientific reconstruction, concluding that the veteran likely did not receive significant radiation exposure during his time in Japan. As such, the claim is granted as there was no substantial evidence linking the cancer to military service.
The deciding factor: The VA Chief PHEHO concluded that the DTRA's estimated dose of less than one rem from external radiation, inhalation, and ingestion did not support a finding of exposure to ionizing radiation in Japan, thus precluding presumptive service connection for any radiogenic disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Carcinomatosis, Cancer of the pancreas
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 16, 2005
- Citation
- 0530835
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 0530835.
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 case due to insufficient medical evaluation regarding the cause of death and the relationship between the Veteran's conditions. The Appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was attributed to carcinomatosis resulting from lung cancer and prostate cancer.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by VA medical treatment, which contributed to his recurrence and spread of cancer. As a result, the appellant is entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation.
- Denied
The Board found that the cause of death, arteriosclerotic heart disease with carcinomatosis, was not attributable to service and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice and assistance provided by the RO, as well as an inadequate review of the claim file by a VA examiner. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death is being reviewed again with additional development.
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.