The Board granted service connection for post-operative residuals of breast cancer, including bilateral mastectomies, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to in-service radiation exposure. The decision was based on a review of medical opinions and dose estimates provided by various parties.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran's breast cancer could be as likely as not caused by her service-related radiation exposure during dental technician duties, despite conflicting dose estimates from different sources.
- Claimed conditions
- post-operative residuals of breast cancer, bilateral mastectomies
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2012
- Citation
- 1200499
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 1200499.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative residuals of breast cancer, including bilateral mastectomies, were at least as likely as not related to in-service radiation exposure and granted service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral mastectomies associated with residuals of carcinoma of the right breast, status post lumpectomy from March 2, 2012 to present more nearly approximate a simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of the size and form of both breasts. The Board finds that the current 50 percent evaluation is warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records related to a potential tort claim and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is currently under consideration, as are her claims of service connection for post-operative residuals of breast cancer and abdominal scarring.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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