The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by a cancer related to in-service herbicide exposure, and thus service connection is granted for the cause of the Veteran’s death.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence suggests a possibility that the Veteran's lung cancer may have been the primary site of his cancer, and the VA oncologist opined that it was more likely than not caused by in-service herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal adenocarcinoma, lung metastases
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20022991
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 20022991.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: 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 to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the link between the Veteran's esophageal adenocarcinoma and his exposure to Agent Orange during service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for esophageal adenocarcinoma based on the Veteran's exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune during active service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma was related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.
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