The Board remands the claim for service connection of the cause of the Veteran's death due to a lack of adequate medical evidence linking esophageal cancer, diabetes mellitus Type 2, and coronary artery disease to his military service, including herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The July 2024 VA examiner's opinions were deemed inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus Type 2 and/or coronary artery disease contributed substantially or materially to his death, nor did they provide a medical nexus for esophageal cancer being directly caused by herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- esophageal cancer, diabetes mellitus Type 2, coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25099026
Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.