The Veteran's esophageal cancer is not service-connected due to the lack of a link between his condition and herbicide exposure. The claim for accrued benefits was denied as it was filed more than one year after the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The Veteran died from metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is not on the presumptive list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure. The VA examiner found no link between the cancer and herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal adenocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19111583
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19111583.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to esophageal adenocarcinoma, which was linked to presumed herbicide agent exposure during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for additional development, including a TERA opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death.
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.