The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to lack of evidence linking mesothelioma with the veteran's service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: Mesothelioma was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition, nor did it contribute substantially or materially to death.
- Claimed conditions
- mesothelioma with metastasis to lung
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2002
- Citation
- 0218153
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0218153.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
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