The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death. The Board also found that the metastatic malignant neoplasm with unknown primary site did not have a direct link to service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion indicated that the cancer was less likely related to herbicide exposure and service, and there was no evidence of a service-connected disability at the time of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic malignant neoplasm with unknown primary site (retroperitoneal)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20069783
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.