The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for other conditions, including lumbar and cervical spine disorders, right shoulder and left shoulder disorders, bilateral arm and elbow condition, left hand disorder, right foot arthritis, left foot disorder, right toe disorder (except the right great toe), and left toe disorder are granted based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. Service connection for other conditions is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure as he served in Guam during a period when such exposure was presumed. Other conditions were not shown to be related to service or service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- prostate cancer, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right arm disorder, left arm disorder, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, right foot disorder, left toe disorder, right toe disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 15, 2023
- Citation
- 23051254
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 23051254.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bone cancer, and lymph node cancer has been granted. The prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at RTAFB Takhli. Bone cancer is secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. Lymph node cancer is also considered secondary to prostate cancer.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.
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