The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD played a material causal role in his continued cigarette smoking after service, which led to his fatal lung cancer. Therefore, the requirements for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death have been met.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected PTSD caused him to continue using tobacco products (cigarettes) after service, which contributed substantially to the development of his fatal lung cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), metastatic lung cancer
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2005
- Citation
- 0515642
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 0515642.
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 determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for the claim of entitlement to TDIU, which is being remanded. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for depression, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder with alcohol use disorder, severe, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic lung cancer, was found to be related to service and caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death. The Board granted entitlement to service connection for the Veteran's cause of death.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and a higher rating for PTSD are both denied.
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