The Board found that the service-connected gastrointestinal disability did not cause or contribute to the veteran's death from adenocarcinoma at the duodenal ulcer. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied due to lack of entitlement to a total disability rating.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions concluded that the service-connected gastrointestinal disability did not cause or contribute to the adenocarcinoma that caused the veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- Adenocarcinoma of the duodenal ulcer, Left deep vein thrombosis (DVT), Pancreatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2006
- Citation
- 0604474
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's acne was granted a 10 percent rating for the period prior to March 26, 2021, and denied a compensable rating thereafter. Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis as secondary conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, IBS, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The effective date of March 7, 2022, was granted for the award of service connection for right lower extremity sciatica, and November 18, 2021, was granted for GERD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease including myocarditis and pericarditis, hypertension, and pancreatitis as secondary to alcoholism due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. Service connection was also granted for left ear hearing loss and arthritis of the left hand on a direct basis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and chronic bronchitis pursuant to the PACT Act, denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, and remanded several other claims including those related to gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis, and hip strains.
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