The Veteran's permanent colostomy is not considered additional disability resulting from VA treatment, as the surgery was necessary to remove rectal cancer and a drop in blood pressure during the first procedure necessitated stopping it. The Board finds that the Veteran has an additional disability but does not find negligence or lack of proper care on VA's part.
The deciding factor: The permanent colostomy resulted from the necessity of performing two surgeries due to complications, including a drop in blood pressure during the initial surgery which required discontinuation of the procedure. The Board finds that this was a reasonably foreseeable event and does not constitute negligence or lack of proper care on VA's part.
- Claimed conditions
- permanent colostomy, rectal cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2011
- Citation
- 1126908
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1126908.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's rectal cancer is related to his active duty service and exposure to Agent Orange. The Board granted service connection for the condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for rectal cancer and the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for colorectal cancer, finding that the evidence did not establish a chronic condition in service or a relationship to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's rectal cancer is related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The decision grants service connection for this condition.
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