The Veteran's stage IV renal cell carcinoma, bone cancer, and respiratory cancer are all found to be related to his service-connected stage IV renal cell carcinoma due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam conflict. Service connection is granted for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran’s current disabilities (stage IV renal cell carcinoma, bone cancer, and respiratory cancer) are secondary to his service-connected stage IV renal cell carcinoma caused by herbicide exposure in service.
- Claimed conditions
- stage IV renal cell carcinoma, bone cancer, respiratory cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20010906
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 20010906.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bone cancer, and lymph node cancer has been granted. The prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at RTAFB Takhli. Bone cancer is secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. Lymph node cancer is also considered secondary to prostate cancer.
- Denied
The Veteran's bone cancer claim is denied because there is no current disability. Service connection for myeloma with myelodysplastic syndrome (claimed as leukemia) has been granted.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tonsillar cancer (claimed as throat and respiratory cancer) due to a lack of evidence showing that his condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury or disease, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases of prostate cancer and bone cancer for further review due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection.
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.