Office of the Ombuds

In July 2025 the Ofice of the Veterans Ombuds (OVO) reviewed a complaint from a veteran whose request to be Red-Zoned was denied. The OVO said in part

"Upon review of their case, the OVO determined that denying the Veteran’s request to Red Zone his new applications was unfair because the policy does not state that if a Veteran pursues treatment, they are no longer considered end-of-life."

At the request of OVO a different VAC Adjudicator reviewed the case and found that although the veteran's condition was stabilized by durgery and medication that it could deteriorate so the Adjudicator that the veteran; "still met the threshold for being medically at risk."  As a result the veterans request for Red-Zoned was approved.

Read the full OVO case here.  Red-Zone Request Approved.

The Bottom-Line is if you have a service-related Cancer, and time is of the essence,
ask to be Red-Zoned, even if your tumor has been removed or your cancer is in remission