The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhabdomyosarcoma, finding that there was no evidence of radiation exposure in service and no other known cause or risk factor for the disease. The Board also noted that the earliest medical evidence of record indicated a diagnosis more than five years after separation from service.
The deciding factor: The absence of competent evidence of radiation exposure in service and the lack of a known cause for rhabdomyosarcoma precluded establishing service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- rhabdomyosarcoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2011
- Citation
- 1132921
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 1132921.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for testicular atrophy, urinary incontinence, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to conflicting medical evidence regarding their onset and progression.
- Granted
The Veteran's rhabdomyosarcoma and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand.
- Denied
The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and his surviving children do not meet the eligibility criteria for educational benefits under Chapter 35 of Title 38.
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.