The Board denied the claim for service connection for the veteran's cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking his fatal conditions to his military service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence showing a link between the veteran's military service and his fatal conditions, including pancreatic cancer which developed many years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiorespiratory respiratory failure, malignant ascites, pancreatic adenocarcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 1, 2008
- Citation
- 0803727
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0803727.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's pancreatic cancer, which should have been service-connected due to exposure to radiation during his military service, substantially contributed to his death. As a result, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for a survivor's pension was denied due to the appellant's countable income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for cause of death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the DIC benefits claim due to lack of substantial compliance with its March 2022 remand directives. The survivor's pension claim is denied as the Appellant's income exceeds the maximum annual death pension rate.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cause of death, sepsis, was not related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The service-connected diabetes mellitus did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's death from sepsis.
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.