The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with widespread peritoneal metastases and small bowel obstruction, is related to his service-connected conditions. The decision grants service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The private clinician's opinion supported by detailed rationale and cited medical literature found that the Veteran's causes of death are likely due to exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with widespread peritoneal metastases, unknown primary site, small bowel obstruction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26009084
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 A26009084.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is related to his service-connected colon cancer, which the Board finds was caused by exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran also had other service-connected conditions like diabetes and coronary artery disease that contributed to his health. Therefore, both service connection for cause of death and DIC are granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there is a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's small bowel obstruction and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to determine if these conditions are related to her military service. The claims are being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's small bowel obstruction, status post resection of small intestine, with IBS, is rated at the maximum 50 percent under Diagnostic Code 7301. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis, small bowel obstruction, to include small bowel perforation, status post left hemicolectomy, Hartman's pouch and ileostomy (bowel condition), as well as right and left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.
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