The Veteran's cause of death was metastatic colon cancer, hepatic failure, and hepatic encephalopathy. The statutory requirements for basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 have not been met.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence linking the Veteran's cause of death to his military service or any exposure during service, including Agent Orange and contaminated water at Camp LeJeune.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic carcinoma due to metastatic carcinoma/bowel obstruction due to colon carcinoma, hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 30, 2012
- Citation
- 1241008
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 1241008.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated in service, and the Board denied the claim for service connection.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and its secondary effects on other conditions, including cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus type II, esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy, and splenomegaly.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure caused by hepatic failure, hepatocellular cancer, and chronic hepatitis C infection.,Service connection for the cause of death is granted as his alcohol and substance abuse were secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore his surviving spouse is denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.
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