Lung cancer Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer and the cause of death due to exposure to herbicides, as there was no evidence of actual service in Vietnam or Thailand where Agent Orange use occurred.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung cancer, lymph node cancer, and prostate cancer were not service-connected due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides. The Veteran did not have a confirmed period of service in Vietnam or along the DMZ in Korea during the qualifying period for herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to, by a service-connected disability. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam or Thailand and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was due to renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the liver, with lung cancer contributing. The service-connected conditions did not play a principal role in his death.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for residuals of lung cancer from 100% to 10% was proper and restored the original 100% rating.

The Veteran's lung cancer and PTSD are not service-connected, with the lung cancer being denied due to lack of evidence linking it to military service. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung cancer is not etiologically related to his active service, including any asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to radiation in service and for consideration of his claim for accrued benefits. The cause of death issue remains pending.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic cancer of unknown primary source, which is presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's COPD and lung cancer did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his FEV-1 was between 56 to 70 percent predicted or FEV-1/FVC between 56 to 70 percent, which corresponds to a 10% disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service asbestos exposure and his later-developed lung cancer. The Board also noted that the Veteran had a history of tobacco use, which contributed to his lung cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, and he is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions. The issue of service connection for lung cancer has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's fatal colon cancer.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic small cell lung cancer, which is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran's diabetes and COPD are also presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining terminal hospital records and determining whether substitution or accrued benefits claims are appropriate. The cause of death claim will also be readjudicated.

The Veteran died from lung cancer, but there is no evidence that a service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death. The Board found the medical opinion in favor of the appellant to be speculative and therefore not probative.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of lung cancer associated with herbicide exposure do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent, as his pulmonary function tests have consistently shown levels within normal or near-normal ranges.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung cancer is not related to his active service, including any exposure to herbicides or other chemicals. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for lung cancer.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic small cell lung cancer, is found to be at least as likely as not caused by his asbestos exposure during military service.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of in-service disease or injury, as well as a lack of exposure to herbicide agents.