The Board granted service connection for left breast cancer, post double mastectomy with reconstruction surgery, pursuant to the PACT Act due to presumed exposure to burn pits during military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnosis of left breast cancer is presumed to be related to her exposure to burn pits while serving in Kuwait and Iraq after August 2, 1990, under the provisions of the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- left breast cancer, post double mastectomy with reconstruction surgery
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2024
- Citation
- A24064999
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left breast cancer and residual scars, status post breast mastectomy to obtain an opinion under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 (PACT Act) due to the Veteran's presumed exposure to burn pits during her service in Iraq and Kuwait.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a temporary total disability rating and service connection for left breast cancer as secondary to fibrocystic breast disease due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for left breast cancer, as the Veteran did not undergo a modified radical mastectomy of both breasts.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring VA to obtain additional private medical records.
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