The Board finds that the cause of the veteran's death, nonsmall cell lung cancer, was not caused or substantially contributed to by his service-connected tuberculosis. The appellant has presented evidence suggesting a possible link between prior tuberculosis and increased susceptibility to lung cancer, but this is outweighed by the clinical evidence indicating no such relationship.
The deciding factor: The Board concludes that the veteran's long-term cigarette smoking was the primary cause of his nonsmall cell lung cancer, which developed in 2001. The inactive tuberculosis from service did not contribute substantially or materially to the development of the lung cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- Nonsmall cell lung cancer, Tuberculosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2006
- Citation
- 0605714
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,458 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0605714.
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).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
New evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for tuberculosis, and it is granted. However, there is no current diagnosis of tuberculosis.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and tuberculosis, granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, and granted an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for pulmonary fibrosis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied the claims for an earlier effective date, a higher disability rating for PTSD, and entitlement to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation. The claim of service connection for tuberculosis was remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of tuberculosis, and the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating for GERD.
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