The Veteran's cause of death was not related to service or herbicide exposure, and there is no evidence that his stomach cancer caused or contributed substantially to his death.
The deciding factor: There is no competent evidence associating the Veteran's stomach cancer with service, including herbicide exposure, and it became manifest many years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- adenocarcinoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2016
- Citation
- 1641970
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 1641970.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, adenocarcinoma, and hypertension, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from June 24, 2024 to June 6, 2025.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of lung cancer status-post lung lobectomy was denied as the evidence did not show new and material evidence within one year of the August 2018 rating decision, which became final.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for additional development, including a TERA opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for adenocarcinoma to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding an inadequate medical opinion.
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