The Veteran's death was caused by multi-organ failure due to or as a result of squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, radiation pneumonitis, and severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Board finds service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is warranted based on presumed exposure to an herbicide agent during his service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The post-mortem autopsy showed that the Veteran died from severe acute bacterial pneumonia and other significant conditions including metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, radiation pneumonitis, and severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Board finds this evidence sufficient to establish presumed exposure to an herbicide agent during service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- multi-organ failure, squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, radiation pneumonitis, severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 15, 2022
- Citation
- 22034774
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22034774.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is granted as secondary to his service-connected eczema and psoriasis. The initial compensable evaluation for toenail psoriasis remains denied.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis as the appeal is considered duplicative of a previous decision.
- Partly granted
The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for neoplasm hard and soft tissue of the mouth was improper, as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding the cause of the condition. The Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to squamous cell carcinoma, finding that there is no evidence linking it to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.
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