The Board denied service connection for rectal cancer, mitral valve prolapse, and pulmonary hypertension. The claims were based on the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service, but no definitive evidence was provided to support a causal link between the conditions and this exposure.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions did not establish a clear connection between the Veteran's rectal cancer, mitral valve prolapse, or pulmonary hypertension and his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Claimed conditions
- rectal cancer, mitral valve prolapse, pulmonary hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20065341
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for other specified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, while denying increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, chronic rhinitis, tension headaches, and mitral valve prolapse.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence linking rectal cancer to his active military service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for pulmonary hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected mitral valve prolapse was denied a rating in excess of 60 percent prior to January 11, 2008 and from July 12, 2008 to December 22, 2024. However, the Board granted a 100 percent rating for this condition from January 11, 2008 to July 11, 2008 and from December 23, 2024 onwards.
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.