The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his astrocytoma was caused by exposure to Agent Orange during active service.
The deciding factor: The VHA specialist concluded that the third category (inadequate or insufficient evidence) applies to cancers of the brain and that there is a causal relationship between Agent Orange exposure and the Veteran's particular brain tumor based on NAS explanation.
- Claimed conditions
- astrocytoma
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 19, 2016
- Citation
- 1606393
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 1606393.
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 withdrew her appeals for the 100% rating for astrocytoma, SMC reinstatement, and DEA eligibility effective August 1, 2021.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's astrocytoma is related to his service, specifically his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The examiner must determine if the Veteran's condition falls under the presumptive diseases associated with herbicide exposure and/or if it was caused by such exposure.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks service connection for astrocytoma, a form of brain cancer. The Board finds that the development under 38 U.S.C. § 3.311 is not adequate to decide the claim and remands it for additional development including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling an examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cause of death is remanded for further review due to new evidence submitted by the Appellant suggesting a possible link between his astrocytoma and exposure to herbicides during service. The DIC claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.
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