The Board has determined that cancer of the lung, which is presumed to be due to radiation exposure in service, caused the veteran's death. The metastases in the brain are not considered service-connected.
The deciding factor: Cancer of the lung was found to be a radiogenic disease presumptively related to service exposure to ionizing radiation, and thus granted as service connected for cause of death purposes.
- Claimed conditions
- cancer of the lung, metastases in the brain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2003
- Citation
- 0308418
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,440 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0308418.
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 Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cancer.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for further action due to an inadequate examination report regarding the relationship between the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and lung metastasis, as well as its relation to herbicide agent exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with metastasis, cause of death, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are related to the Veteran's in-service exposures to chemicals/toxins and bodily fluids.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death was cancer of the lung, which is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents during his service. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.