The Veteran's cause of death is listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to metastatic pancreatic cancer. The appellant asserts that the pancreatic cancer was related to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, but this claim cannot be presumed since pancreatic cancer is not a disease associated with herbicide exposure. A medical opinion is needed to determine if there is any relationship between herbicides and the Veteran's pancreatic cancer.
The deciding factor: Pancreatic cancer is not a disease presumed to be related to herbicide exposure by law, so a medical opinion is required to assess the relationship between herbicides and the Veteran's pancreatic cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic pancreatic cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 22, 2015
- Citation
- 1531273
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 1531273.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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 metastatic pancreatic cancer, which was service-connected, substantially and materially contributed to his death. Therefore, service connection for cause of death is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was due to service-connected cause, specifically his metastatic pancreatic cancer which is presumed to be related to burn pit exposure in the Persian Gulf. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's pancreatic neoplasm and metastatic pancreatic cancer are granted service connection.,The cause of the Veteran's death, respiratory arrest due to metastatic pancreatic cancer, is also granted service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is attributed to metastatic pancreatic cancer, which the Board finds was caused by his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service. Service connection for cause of death is granted.
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