The Board found that the veteran's metastatic disease to brain, bone and lung did not have onset during active service, did not manifest within one year of separation from active service, and are not otherwise related to the veteran's active service. The Board also determined that a disability incurred in or aggravated by service did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to cause the veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The evidence rebuts the presumption for service connection based on herbicide exposure due to the metastatic nature of the disease, and there is no other evidence linking the conditions to active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Renal cell carcinoma, Metastatic disease to brain, bone and lung
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2008
- Citation
- 0816761
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 the cause of death due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma, finding no evidence linking it to in-service toxic exposures.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, related to his conceded exposure to herbicide agents during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial disability ratings for renal cell carcinoma and painful scars status post partial nephrectomy associated with renal cell carcinoma are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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