The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, was presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam. The diabetes mellitus type II and end stage renal disease resulting from this exposure were also considered presumptively service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure, led to end stage renal disease requiring organ transplants. The anti-rejection medications used after these transplants are known to cause squamous cell carcinoma, leading to the Veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, end stage renal disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2011
- Citation
- 1106364
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 1106364.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by end stage renal disease, which the VA clinician concluded was due to his hypertension. The private clinician opined that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in service, along with service-connected PTSD, caused the development of his hypertension and contributed substantially to his end stage renal disease.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by end stage renal disease, which the VA clinician concluded was due to his hypertension. The private clinician opined that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in service, along with service-connected PTSD, caused the development of his hypertension and contributed substantially to his end stage renal disease.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by end stage renal disease, which the VA clinician concluded was due to his hypertension. The private clinician opined that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in service, along with service-connected PTSD, caused the development of his hypertension and contributed substantially to his end stage renal disease.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of end stage renal disease and ureterolithiasis is dismissed due to the death of the appellant while the appeal was pending.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.