The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his astrocytoma of the brain was related to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The positive medical opinions provided by Drs. P. and K., based on a review of academic literature and the Veteran's medical records, concluded that the Veteran's astrocytoma of the brain was at least as likely as not related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Claimed conditions
- astrocytoma of the brain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25036266
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,092 · Granted: 42% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25036266.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 death was due to glioblastoma multiforme, a service-connected condition. The Appellant submitted informal claims for DIC based on the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and his service-connected astrocytoma of the brain. The Board granted an effective date of January 1, 2010, for the award of DIC.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by a type of brain cancer that is presumed to be linked to his military service in Southwest Asia, specifically exposure to burn pits. As such, the claim for DIC benefits based on cause of death due to service-connected disability is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by or made worse by his service-connected conditions, including exposure to burn pits in Southwest Asia. The VA examiner’s opinion regarding these issues is inadequate and additional medical opinion is necessary.
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