The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted as there is some additional disability resulting from the delay in diagnosis and treatment of his colon and rectal cancer, which was due to VA's carelessness or negligence.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that there was a delay in follow-up on a positive hemoccult test for colorectal cancer, leading to a later diagnosis and treatment. The Veteran's condition resulted in additional disability as a result of this delay.
- Claimed conditions
- carcinoma of the rectum, carcinoma of the colon
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2016
- Citation
- 1622836
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 1622836.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for carcinoma of the colon was dismissed due to a late filing.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death is not related to service, and the appellant is not recognized as his surviving spouse for death pension purposes.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant failed to submit a completed VA Form 21-4142, which would have authorized VA to obtain terminal medical records necessary to adjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for the Veteran's cause of death. The evidence was insufficient to determine whether a service-connected disability was singly or with some other condition the immediate or underlying cause of the Veteran’s death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lung cancer was a primary site, if service-connected hemorrhoids were a contributory cause of death, and if any cancer had its onset or was otherwise related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.