The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the Veteran's esophageal cancer and his military service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided did not establish a clear link between the Veteran's military service and his esophageal cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- Esophageal Cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2021
- Citation
- 21065167
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 21065167.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 determined that the Veteran's death from esophageal cancer is due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which was secondary to his cannabis use disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's cannabis use disorder caused or substantially contributed to his development of esophageal cancer, leading to his death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD was denied a higher rating, and the TDIU issue was dismissed as moot due to his total disability status from esophageal cancer.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and esophageal cancer due to additional development being required.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, esophageal cancer, and a respiratory disorder (emphysema) has been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or chronic symptoms related to these conditions that would warrant service connection.,Esophagal cancer was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein.
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