The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cancer and granted service connection for cholangiocarcinoma, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.
The deciding factor: A February 2017 private medical opinion indicated that the Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma was more likely than not a result of his in-service herbicide agent exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic poorly differentiated carcinoma with thyroid capsular metastasis, adenocarcinoma, pulmonary cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 8, 2017
- Citation
- 1720717
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 1720717.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma is related to his military service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam. After considering all evidence and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran, the Board granted service connection for cholangiocarcinoma.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is due to cholangiocarcinoma, which was diagnosed in 1988 and presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure during service. The appellant filed a DIC application on November 27, 1989, and the claim was granted with an effective date of November 27, 1989.
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