The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer, finding that the competent and probative evidence of record preponderates against a finding that his bladder cancer is etiologically related to his active military service or exposure to herbicide agents.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the lack of a direct causal link between the Veteran's bladder cancer and his service, including any exposure to Agent Orange. The medical opinions submitted did not support a connection, with one noting that smoking is a more significant risk factor for bladder cancer than herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bladder cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 3, 2009
- Citation
- 0907728
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 granted service connection for bladder cancer, finding it to be related to the Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 12, 2023, for a 50 percent evaluation of bipolar disorder and remanded the other issues for further development.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, bladder cancer, due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of bladder cancer to obtain an adequate VA TERA opinion and provide a clarifying opinion on the relationship between exposure to fuel or CARC and bladder cancer.
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