Lung cancer decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death is due to a service-connected disability, but needs further medical opinion to determine if his heart disease, diabetes mellitus, lung cancer and other conditions contributed to his death.

The Veteran's death was caused by bladder cancer, which is a presumptive disease due to radiation exposure during service in Okinawa. The issues of lung cancer, missing 5th rib, fungal infection, PTSD, diabetes, neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for testicular, lymphatic, and lung cancers due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran's file was not forwarded to the VA Under Secretary of Health for a dose estimate as required by regulation.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for COPD/residuals of surgery for lung cancer is denied. The case is remanded for further action on the service connection claim for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new medical evidence being submitted. The AOJ will review this evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for lung cancer residuals from January 22, 2013 to June 9, 2014 was denied as there is no evidence of respiratory residuals related to the left upper lobectomy during this period.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for residual surgical scar, left upper lobectomy, was denied due to lack of evidence of chronic pain or other disabling effects from the surgery.

The Board has denied service connection for lung cancer and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU). The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction for further development.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for lung cancer and cause of death due to lung cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's lung cancer to his military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's lung cancer was diagnosed within one year prior to his claim and an effective date of December 19, 2014 is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,An initial 20 percent rating for scars associated with sigmoid stricture with diverting colostomy and cecostomy tube placement prior to November 1, 2011 is granted. A rating in excess of 20 percent beginning on November 1, 2011 is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease is denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by lung cancer, which is a secondary condition to his primary adrenal cancer. The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's adrenal cancer was caused by his active service, including conceded herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, blood cancer (polycythemia vera), and lung cancer due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new examination of the Veteran's respiratory disabilities and to determine if his COPD is related to his service-connected lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lung cancer and hypoxemia. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, specifically by causing or permanently aggravating his metastatic lung cancer leading to fatal cardiac arrest. The evidence is at least in equipoise on this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of total disability rating for at least ten years prior to death, and because the Veteran did not meet any other criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1318. The lung cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease claims are also remanded as they involve asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The appellant must provide confirmation of the ship's location and VA will attempt to verify the Veteran's reported in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural deficiencies and the need for further development, including obtaining a dose assessment from VA's Under Secretary for Health regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, prostate cancer, embolic cerebrovascular accident (stroke), and erectile dysfunction, all potentially related to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand. The appellant is requested to provide information about her husband's alleged herbicide exposure while stationed at Takhli, Korat, Ubon, and Udorn RTAFBs.

The Veteran's lung disability, including squamous-cell carcinoma lung cancer, was evaluated at 30 percent prior to June 11, 2019 and denied a higher rating. From June 11, 2019 to June 09, 2021, the Veteran received a 60 percent evaluation which was also denied. Prior to June 09, 2021, TDIU was granted.