The Veteran's cause of death was caused by colon cancer with liver metastases, which is not service-connected. Lung cancer, a condition related to the colon cancer, is also service-connected due to herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a direct or secondary service connection for the Veteran's cause of death (colon cancer and liver metastases) but supports a finding of service connection for lung cancer as it was caused by his primary diagnosis of colon cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- colon cancer, liver metastases
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2010
- Citation
- 1008134
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1008134.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of colon cancer, claimed as due to exposure to asbestos, for an addendum opinion considering additional evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for colon cancer as the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and their in-service toxic exposure risk activity.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claim for colon cancer to obtain a medical opinion on its etiology, particularly regarding exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for residuals of colon cancer and prostate cancer, finding no evidence linking the conditions to the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure.
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