The Veteran's death was attributed to lung cancer, which is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise that the lung cancer resulted from Agent Orange exposure and granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence established a diagnosis of lung cancer, which is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure, and there was no affirmative evidence to rebut this presumption.
- Claimed conditions
- carcinoma of the lungs
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2011
- Citation
- 1138894
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1138894.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or radiation during service, and thus, the Veteran's lung cancer is not considered a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in the Korean DMZ and granted service connection for the cause of his death due to lung cancer, which is associated with such exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected COPD was denied as it is not related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected carcinoma of the lungs. The Board also found that he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to April 1, 2013.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection of carcinoma of the lungs and pneumonia are being remanded due to incomplete development, including a need for clarification on whether he wishes to testify before the Board.
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