Lung cancer Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for the residuals of his lung cancer is granted, with a minimum separate rating of 10 percent for symptoms analogous to chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have erectile dysfunction as a result of his military service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, did not become manifest to a compensable degree within one year following separation from service, and could not be attributed to exposure to certain toxins or any incident related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for lung cancer is denied.

The Veteran's lung cancer, which caused his death, was not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's lung cancer and its relation to his service at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The lung disability claim was denied as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, while the psychiatric disorder claim was denied due to lack of established medical evidence connecting the current disability to the claimed stressor.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's spouse was not recognized as the surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) due to her marriage being less than a year prior to his death.

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.