The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records do not show any duty assignments in Vietnam, Korea, or at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where exposure to herbicides could be presumed.
- Claimed conditions
- cancer of the abdomen, esophagus, liver, brain, spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2023
- Citation
- 23065125
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 23065125.
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 Veteran's seizures are granted as secondary to the service-connected scar tissue from a 1969 head surgery.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for hernia, brain tumor, heart, esophagus, kidney, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and thyroid. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
An earlier effective date of October 31, 2019, is granted for the Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected spine and lower extremity disabilities caused or contributed to his death by respiratory failure and pulmonary fibrosis.
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