The Veteran's papillary renal cell carcinoma post-ablation, left is granted as service connection is established on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to burn pits under the PACT Act.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a current diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma and was exposed to burn pits during active duty in Djibouti. However, the evidence does not support a finding that the cancer began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Claimed conditions
- papillary renal cell carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24026058
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 A24026058.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal to reduce the disability rating for papillary renal cell carcinoma from 100% to noncompensable (0%) is dismissed because it does not confer appellate rights.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's papillary renal cell carcinoma is related to exposure to burn pits during his service in Iraq, and therefore grants the claim for service connection on a direct causation basis.
- Granted
The Veteran's papillary renal cell carcinoma is granted service connection. For the entire appeal period, a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted and he is granted entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further medical development to determine whether the Veteran's papillary renal cell carcinoma is active or in remission, and if there has been cessation of treatment.
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