The Veteran's death was attributed to renal cancer, but the cause of his lung cancer is unclear. The Board has ordered a medical opinion to determine if the lung cancer originated in the lungs and whether it is related to Agent Orange exposure. Additionally, the Board requested an assessment on whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD contributed to the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The primary site of the Veteran's cancer needs clarification as well as its relation to his presumed Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- Renal cancer, Colon cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2011
- Citation
- 1105313
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 1105313.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected colon cancer disability, finding that there is inadequate evidence to support a compensable rating prior to March 23, 2021 and no increase in rating thereafter.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cancer was granted in the November 2024 rating decision, with a 100% disability rating effective January 25, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer has been granted due to new and relevant evidence received since the previous denial. The Board finds that the Veteran's current disability is a condition that had its onset during his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of colon cancer is granted, with a new rating of 30 percent effective December 1, 2024. The claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for two painful scars and for compensable ratings for four remaining scars are denied.
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