Lung cancer decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the eligibility criteria for PCAFC due to lack of personal care services. However, there is conflicting evidence indicating potential need for personal care and supervision. The case is being remanded for a new medical determination.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis with emphysema and lung cancer, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The effective dates are not specified.

The Veteran's non-small cell lung cancer was rated at 100% effective from January 7, 2025. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically concerning his bladder cancer and other cancers allegedly caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral eye disability are all granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his active service in Thailand. The Veteran is also granted special monthly pension benefits due to the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's lung cancer status post left upper lobectomy is rated at 30 percent from July 17, 2018 to September 9, 2018 and March 4, 2022 to March 7, 2022. The claim for a higher rating is denied from October 19, 2018 to October 21, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's cause of death is related to his service exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board finds that he died from lung cancer due to service-connected causes. The appeal for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further evaluation due to conflicting medical findings and a need for additional VA oncological assessment.

The Board has granted service connection for metastatic lung cancer and pleural effusion as secondary to service-connected metastatic lung cancer. Service connection is being remanded for COPD, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain missing National Guard records, including those from his time in the Alabama Army National Guard.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the 38 U.S.C. 1114(s) rate are granted with effective dates of January 1, 2017, for TDIU and November 12, 2019, for SMC.

The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, but the RO's subsequent decisions were found to be invalid due to a claims processing error. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's lung cancer is found to be related to his in-service asbestos exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions, and the criteria for DIC benefits were not met. The Board denied both claims.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a low back disability due to lack of timely filing. The reduction from 100% to 10% rating for small-cell lung cancer residuals was found proper based on evidence showing no local recurrence or metastasis.

The Veteran's lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type II are granted as presumptively service-connected due to exposure to burn pits during military service, specifically under the PACT Act. The claim for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service and its impact on his cause of death. The AOJ must develop this claim by considering the documents submitted in October 2022 and obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires personal care services due to a need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which his ability to function in daily life would be seriously impaired. The appeal is remanded to determine if participation in PCAFC is in the best interest of the Veteran and provide complete notice.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected residuals of lung cancer was denied, with the Board finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 30 percent.