The Board has determined that the Veteran's intestinal neoplasm and rectal cancer are related to his in-service exposure to toxic fumes, including diesel exhaust and AFFF. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided conflicting views on the etiology of the Veteran's condition; however, the Board found no basis to assign greater probative weight to either opinion and thus decided in favor of granting service connection based on the reasonable doubt created by the evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- intestinal neoplasm, rectal cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26015111
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 A26015111.
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 rectal cancer is related to his active duty service and exposure to Agent Orange. The Board granted service connection for the condition.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for rectal cancer and the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for colorectal cancer, finding that the evidence did not establish a chronic condition in service or a relationship to service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's rectal cancer is related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The decision grants service connection for this condition.
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