The Board has determined that the Veteran's GIST is a soft tissue sarcoma and was caused by his service. As he had in-country service in the Republic of Vietnam, he is entitled to presumptive service connection for his GIST.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had in-country service in the Republic of Vietnam and GIST is a form of soft tissue sarcoma which is listed as presumptively related to service under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) for veterans who have been exposed to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- soft tissue sarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2009
- Citation
- 0937177
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 0937177.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, soft tissue sarcoma, and hypertension. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is presumed due to his service in Thailand with the 18 Organizational Maintenance Squadron (PACAF).
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma, but denied service connection for soft tissue sarcoma. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of all claims by the Veteran through his authorized representative.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma and soft tissue sarcoma, finding no evidence of these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.
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