The Board has remanded the case due to an inability to make a fully informed decision on the issue of service connection for cause of death, as there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding herbicide exposure. The Veteran's death certificate lists colon carcinoma as the immediate cause of death.
The deciding factor: There is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding herbicide exposure, and the benefit-of-the-doubt rule is applied in favor of the Veteran. Remand for an opinion addressing direct causation due to herbicide exposure is warranted.
- Claimed conditions
- colon carcinoma, bladder cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22035297
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 22035297.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's prostate and bladder cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 40%, effective December 1, 2025. The Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing held in April 2026.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus II, ischemic heart disease, and bladder cancer due to lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 31, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 2, 2017. The Board has decided that he is entitled to a TDIU effective from that date.
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