The Veteran's claims for service connection for a breathing disorder and bladder cancer have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve near the Korean DMZ where herbicide agents were applied, and thus could not establish presumptive service connection based on such exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records do not indicate service in or near the Korean DMZ where herbicide agents were known to have been applied. The Board found that his statements regarding this issue are not credible due to the lack of supporting evidence in his service records.
- Claimed conditions
- Breathing Disorder, Bladder Cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26037184
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 A26037184.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 hypertension was granted a 10 percent rating for the period prior to August 10, 2022. The Veteran's bladder cancer received a 100 percent rating from March 7, 2018 until September 8, 2018.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for bladder cancer effective from December 16, 2005, finding that the Veteran had a claim pending since then.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's psychiatric disability, hypertension, and bladder cancer are granted service connection. The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding herbicide exposure claims.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's bladder cancer residuals were denied as service connection was not established due to lack of in-service exposure to herbicides or asbestos, and the current disability is not related to his service.
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