The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 is found to have contributed substantially and causally to the onset of his pancreatic cancer, which was listed as the cause of death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA physicians' opinions supported by medical studies concluded that there is an association between type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer, with a stronger effect after 10 years of duration.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus type 2, Pancreatic cancer
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 12, 2020
- Citation
- 20053546
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 20053546.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death from pancreatic cancer may be service-connected due to environmental exposures in service, and thus remands for a medical opinion on this issue. The DIC benefits claim is also remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to pancreatic cancer, finding that it was caused by herbicide agent exposure and the service-connected diabetes mellitus. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes, finding that the evidence did not show chronic symptoms during service or continuous post-service symptoms.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, with congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease presence of stent as the underlying cause. The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension, which he had during service, contributed to his death.
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