The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was related to his in-service herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange. The medical evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the presumed herbicide exposure had a contributory effect on the cause of the Veteran's death from esophageal carcinoma.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the medical opinions linking the Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure to his fatal esophageal carcinoma were consistent and supported by the record, thus establishing at least equipoise evidence for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- carcinoma of the esophagus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2010
- Citation
- 1047610
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 1047610.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. The Board found no evidence of the Veteran's carcinoma of the esophagus during his military service or within one year after discharge, and thus denied DIC benefits based on service connection for cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining an independent medical opinion and further review of the claims file.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the esophageal cancer was not related to his active service.
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