The Veteran's colon cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to burn pits and other toxins during his service in the Persian Gulf.,The Veteran's heart condition is not found to be related to or aggravated by his colon cancer.
The deciding factor: A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current gastrointestinal cancer was caused by or etiologically related to various hazardous environmental exposures, including burn pits and other toxins experienced during service in the Persian Gulf.,Another VA medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's heart condition was caused by his colon cancer. If possible, the examiner should also determine if the Veteran's heart condition was aggravated (worsened) by his gastrointestinal cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- colon cancer, heart condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 30, 2023
- Citation
- 23063247
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 23063247.
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.
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The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and its relation to service. The Veteran's atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and colon cancer are being evaluated for their relationship to toxic exposure during service.
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