Lung cancer decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lung cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his active duty periods. The lung cancer was determined to have existed prior to these periods and did not show any aggravation during them.

The Veteran's cause of death is shown to be lung cancer, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. Therefore, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical inquiry and an addendum report from the July 2016 VA examiner.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lung cancer, including whether it is related to service or asbestos exposure. The case will be remanded for a VA examination and further development.

The Veteran's lung cancer, which caused his death, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the lung cancer was a primary cancer and granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination opinions are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a qualified examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia was denied. The claim for service connection for visual changes as due to herbicide exposure is granted based on new evidence received since the last denial. Service connection for a lung disorder (non-small cell lung cancer) is granted due to presumed exposure during service in Vietnam. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with depressed mood) is granted as secondary to a service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's lung cancer is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected due to esophageal cancer, as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during or was caused by his military service. The lung and liver cancers were determined to be metastasis from the esophageal cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected lung cancer, bronchitis, and PTSD have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due to his severe respiratory conditions and psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lung cancer, including as due to herbicide exposure in service, is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of kidney cancer, lung cancer, and bone cancer as they were not based on a timely NOD or submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple myeloma of the left iliac crest, finding it etiologically related to herbicide exposure in service. Service connection was denied for lung cancer.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability, including peripheral neuropathy. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was respiratory failure and metastatic lung cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and non-small cell lung cancer are not related to his service, including exposure to asbestos. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that there was no evidence of service connection for the Veteran's death and denied the claim. The cause of death, lung cancer, is not considered to be related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lung cancer, which was found to be related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service, is granted as service connected. The cause of the Veteran's death, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, is also determined to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 3, 2016, for service connection of lung cancer and pelvic bone metastases associated with lung cancer were denied as there was no earlier intent to file such claims.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for lung cancer was denied by the RO, resulting in a noncompensable rating effective from February 1, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and residuals of lung cancer have rendered him unemployable, but the VA examiners' opinions did not adequately address his overall functional impairment caused by these disabilities. Additional development is needed to provide an addendum opinion regarding the cumulative effects of his service-connected conditions.