The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that nicotine dependence acquired during active service led to a lifelong tobacco habit which caused the veteran's carcinoma of the lungs and ultimately his liver cancer.
The deciding factor: The expert concluded that although the most proximate cause of the cancer was the later use of tobacco, the inservice use was related because the veteran acquired the habit while in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Carcinoma of the liver, Carcinoma of the lung
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 12, 2000
- Citation
- 0015395
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 0015395.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cause of death was ruled as carcinoma of the lung, but service connection for this condition is denied. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether VA care contributed to the Veteran's lung cancer.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was obstructive pneumonia, which led to metastatic carcinoma in the thoracic spine and lung cancer.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's liver cancer did not have its onset during service and was not otherwise related to a disease or injury of service origin, thus denying his claim for service connection.
- Granted
The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for the veteran's cause of death, finding that his atrial fibrillation, which contributed significantly to his death, was related to his period of military service.
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