The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for carcinoma of the lower lip and emphysema, both claimed as secondary to tobacco use in service. The decision found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or nicotine addiction acquired during service.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current disabilities (carcinoma of the lower lip and emphysema) to smoking or nicotine dependence that began while on active duty in the military.
- Claimed conditions
- carcinoma of the lower lip, emphysema
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 7, 2000
- Citation
- 0009392
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0009392.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for emphysema and pulmonary hypertension, finding that the Veteran's emphysema was caused by active service, including participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA), and that his pulmonary hypertension is secondary to his emphysema.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, emphysema, muscle cramps, bilateral shoulder disability, and neck disability. However, it granted service connection for peripheral vascular disease and asthma.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for COPD, emphysema, a chest wall condition, PTSD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, a low back condition, TBI, and a chest tumor.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and emphysema, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance.
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