The Veteran's metastatic esophageal cancer, presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service, is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
The deciding factor: The September 2015 VHA opinion concluded that the Veteran's metastatic esophageal cancer was at least as likely as not caused by exposure to Agent Orange, which is presumed due to service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic esophageal cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 29, 2015
- Citation
- 1554022
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1554022.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was caused by cardiorespiratory arrest and metastatic esophageal cancer. The appellant is recognized as the surviving spouse, but service connection for cause of death remains pending due to insufficient information on in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal cancer other than esophageal cancer and stomach cancer, brain cancer, and prostate cancer. The issues of entitlement to service connection for esophageal cancer, metastatic esophageal cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer were remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and for metastatic esophageal cancer, liver cancer, and lymph node cancer as they were not related to the Veteran's service or presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic esophageal cancer, was not caused by his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found the evidence did not support service connection for the cause of death.
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