Lung cancer Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service and whether his fatal lung cancer may be related to such exposure. The case will be returned for further consideration.

The Veteran's lung cancer is presumed to have been caused by his service in Vietnam, and he is granted service connection for the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and metastatic lung cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran did not have a pending claim for service connection at the time of his death, and no evidence was found to support the claims for diabetes mellitus and lung cancer. Therefore, the accrued benefits claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no competent evidence to support the appellant's assertion that shrapnel in the Veteran's lung caused his lung cancer and contributed to his COPD.

The Veteran passed away due to lung cancer. The appellant is seeking an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, which were granted on February 28, 2005. However, the RO/AMC must determine if a claim for death benefits was filed with Social Security Administration prior to the Veteran's death.

The Board found no evidence of service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death based on Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's non-small cell lung cancer is not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran died in July 2002. The appellant filed a claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) four years later, on September 15, 2006. As the claim was not received within one year of the Veteran's death, an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a higher initial evaluation of 10 percent for lung cancer residuals, effective January 17, 2007, for accrued benefits purposes. The issue of service connection for coronary artery disease was also addressed but not decided.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and VA did not fail to timely diagnose or treat his cancer. Therefore, DIC benefits under both § 1151 and § 1318 are denied.

The Veteran's lung cancer is not service-connected as he did not serve in Vietnam and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed for service connection, and the appellant seeks DIC benefits under a specific law. The VA is also considering whether to provide burial benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as the absence of a presumptive link between Agent Orange exposure and the Veteran's cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lung cancer, but denied service connection for tinea versicolor due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by lung cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Lung cancer is considered a service-connected disability due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's death was not initially recognized by VA until a DIC claim was filed on June 13, 2006. The effective date for the award of DIC benefits is denied as it cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and incomplete review of the Veteran's complete medical history, including his treatment records from 1998 to 2001, the treatment records of his service-connected lung disability, and his history of cigarette smoking.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service. His lung cancer claim is remanded as further development is needed.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and burial benefits based on the cause of his death are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's residuals of lung cancer are as likely as not a result of active service, including possible exposure to radon and ground contaminants in Guam. Service connection is granted.