The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal stricture, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer, all secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim for esophageal stricture due to lack of new and material evidence.
The deciding factor: The Board found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for esophageal stricture, as the Veteran's service records do not show in-country duty or visitation in Vietnam. The claims for thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer were denied due to lack of competent clinical or credible lay evidence showing a causal relationship with active service.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal stricture, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2011
- Citation
- 1125245
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 1125245.
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The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected chronic fatigue and weakness due to chemotherapy and radiation treatment for lung cancer is granted, with an evaluation of 60 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of lung cancer from May 1, 2005 is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- 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 Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
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