The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death from metastatic esophageal cancer is service connected as a direct result of in-service tobacco use and nicotine dependence, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) for any of the conditions listed. However, the Veteran's death was due to metastatic esophageal cancer, which is a direct result of his in-service tobacco use and nicotine dependence.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic esophageal cancer, bone cancer, skin cancer, brain cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 24, 2011
- Citation
- 1107335
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 1107335.
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 claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bone cancer, and lymph node cancer has been granted. The prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at RTAFB Takhli. Bone cancer is secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. Lymph node cancer is also considered secondary to prostate cancer.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for skin cancer and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a causal relationship to active military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation and service connection was denied due to a late filing of the Board Appeal request.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin cancer has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.
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