The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma multiforme, finding it more likely than not related to exposure to herbicides in Thailand during his military service.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides near the perimeter of the Thailand military base where he served and that this exposure is presumed for Veterans with duty on military base perimeters in Thailand during the Vietnam era. The private medical opinions, buddy statements, and appellant's testimony provided compelling rationale supporting a link between the Veteran’s fatal glioblastoma multiforme and his herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- glioblastoma multiforme of the brain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19120905
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,421 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19120905.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for glioblastoma multiforme of the brain, finding it related to herbicide exposure during service. The cause of death due to this condition is also supported by the evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's glioblastoma multiforme of the brain, specifically addressing a newspaper article submitted by the Veteran.
- Granted
The Veteran's squamous carcinoma base of tongue with metastasis to left submental lymph nodes and glioblastoma multiforme of the brain are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claims for service connection are granted.
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