The Veteran's service connection claims for colorectal cancer and metastatic adenocarcinoma of the sternum were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service, continuous symptoms since service separation, or manifestation to a compensable degree within one year of service separation. The Board also found that the current medical literature does not support causality between herbicide exposure and the risk of developing colon cancer.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of lay and medical evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for the Veteran's colorectal cancer and metastatic adenocarcinoma, including as due to herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- colorectal cancer, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the sternum
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19177683
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (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 19177683.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your appeal. As a result, no decision can be made on your claims.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for colorectal cancer, a disability rating more than 60 percent for nephrosclerosis associated with type II diabetes mellitus, TDIU, and an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's colorectal cancer is granted on a direct basis. The Board has also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his GI disorders, including diverticulitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty to assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed colorectal disorder.
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