The Board granted service connection for brain cancer, diagnosed as glioblastoma (a type of astrocytoma), based on in-service exposure to burn pits.
The deciding factor: The November 2021 private opinion provided a fully stated rationale supporting the conclusion that the Veteran's brain cancer is due to his confirmed in-service TERAs, particularly exposure to dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, and airborne particulate matter from burn pits.
- Claimed conditions
- brain cancer, diagnosed as glioblastoma (a type of astrocytoma)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 1, 2025
- Citation
- A25040069
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal cancer other than esophageal cancer and stomach cancer, brain cancer, and prostate cancer. The issues of entitlement to service connection for esophageal cancer, metastatic esophageal cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for lung cancer and brain cancer as secondary to lung cancer due to an inadequate VA opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for brain cancer to obtain additional evidence regarding potential in-service radiation exposure and a medical opinion on its relation to his condition.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for anaplastic astrocytoma and brain cancer due to burn pits and fires exposure in Saudi Arabia was dismissed as the Notice of Disagreement was submitted more than one year after the initial denial.
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