The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his military service, which is presumed under VA regulations. However, the cancer found in the Veteran's nasopharynx with metastasis was not shown to be related to his time in Vietnam or any other service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence received since the July 2005 rating decision raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service, but did not establish a direct link between the Veteran's death and his time in Vietnam or any other service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Adenocystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx with pulmonary metastasis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2014
- Citation
- 1412264
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 1412264.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during his time in Vietnam.
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