Lung cancer Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for COPD and lung cancer, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not attributable to his military service. The evidence did not support a link between his claimed conditions and exposure to carbon tetrachloride during service.

The Veteran's lung cancer claim is being remanded for additional development, including verification of in-service asbestos exposure and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his lung cancer.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of bilateral knee degenerative changes, service connection for lung cancer and bilateral shoulder arthritis have been denied. The Veteran failed to appear for VA examinations related to his knee disability and the claims for lung cancer and shoulder arthritis were not substantiated by new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for lung cancer, to include as due to exposure to herbicides, is withdrawn. The claim for service connection for tonsillar cancer, to include as due to exposure to herbicides, was denied.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic lung cancer, is not service-connected as it was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand and thus cannot establish presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service contributed to his death from lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Elmendorf Air Force Base clinic in Anchorage.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain information about the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during his service, specifically in relation to his Special Weapons Unit, Atlantic (SWULANT). The claim will be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits if any confirmed exposure is found.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected post-surgical residuals of lung cancer and any associated scars. The AMC/RO will also consider whether a separate rating is warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran died of metastatic esophageal carcinoma, and the Appellant is seeking service connection for this cause of death as secondary to in-service Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered a VA medical opinion to determine whether the lung cancer was primary or metastatic, and if it could be related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The cause of death was metastatic lung cancer.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and he did not meet the criteria for accrued benefits or basic eligibility for DEA. The cause of his death (pneumonia due to lung cancer) is not attributable to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis and rounded atelectasis, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos. Lung cancer was not found to be related to service or in-service exposure to asbestos. COPD was also found to be related to service due to asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 100 percent to 0 percent for left lower lung lobectomy status post lung cancer was not proper, and thus denied restoration of a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated opinion regarding the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities, including newly granted ischemic heart disease.

The Board finds that the RO's decision to reduce the evaluation for service-connected residuals of lung cancer from 100 percent to 30 percent was proper. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating based on his current pulmonary function test results.

The Veteran's lung cancer is not related to his service, including his inservice exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death due to myocardial infarction with cardiac arrhythmia, metastatic lung cancer and bilateral pulmonary emphysema.

The Veteran's death was not covered for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits because the appellant did not meet the requirements to be considered his surviving spouse.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to his exposure to hazardous noise levels during service, warranting service connection. The lung cancer claim is remanded for further development.