Lung cancer decisions — 2018

The Veteran's cause of death, cardio-pulmonary arrest due to metastatic adenocarcinoma, was not related to his military service and therefore the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of her claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, atrial fibrillation (claimed as heart condition), and lung cancer.

The Veteran's lung cancer, which caused his death, was not service-connected as it is not presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure in Thailand or any other basis. The Board found no evidence of the Veteran being exposed to herbicides during his time at Takhli Airfield and there were no indications of symptoms related to lung cancer prior to his death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any service-connected conditions, and his lung cancer was more likely due to smoking rather than exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's stage 4 lung cancer may be related to service exposure to asbestos, but needs further medical evaluation and opinion.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for residuals of frostbite in the hands and feet, service connection for cause of death, and a hearing loss claim. The examiner is to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to service-connected PTSD or anxiety.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and his cancer.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, COPD, heart disease, and a right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The appeal is dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn her request for a hearing and thus, there are no specific issues to review.

The Veteran's lung cancer is denied as it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lung cancer and pancreatic cancer due to a lack of definitive evidence regarding exposure to burn pits during service. The cause of death claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's lung cancer, which was presumed to have been caused by radiation exposure during service, contributed substantially or materially to his death. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection were remanded due to procedural issues, lack of updated pulmonary function tests, and the need for further development regarding lung cancer.

The Veteran's lung disabilities, including COPD and pulmonary nodule, are being remanded due to insufficient examination. The gall bladder disability is also being remanded for a VA examination. The bone loss of the jaw and dental disability due to abscess are being remanded as well.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposure to tear gas and his current lung cancer and COPD diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for lung cancer due to asbestos exposure, but the claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease L4-L5 with spinal stenosis and entitlement to a temporary total disability rating are remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's death was ruled due to small cell lung cancer, but the VA medical opinion found no service connection. The Board denied the claim for cause of death as there is no evidence linking the lung cancer to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, low back disorder, and left hip disorder. The Veteran's right shoulder condition is not related to his military service as there was no chronic right shoulder disability in service or after separation. For the low back disorder, the Veteran did not have arthritis within one year of separation from service, and the Board found that the current back disability was not caused by an in-service injury. The left hip disorder claim was denied because there is no evidence of a diagnosis of arthritis within a year of separation. Service connection for lung cancer due to asbestos exposure was also denied as there was no objective medical evidence indicating such a condition.,The Veteran's right shoulder, low back, and left hip conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and secondary service connection for lung cancer, finding that there is at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims for accrued benefits, including service connection for various conditions and a compensable rating for fatigue. The claim for the cause of the Veteran's death is also being remanded due to an issue with the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).