The Board found that the Veteran's lung cancer was not related to service, including any possible asbestos exposure. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the lung cancer is due to tobacco use.
The deciding factor: The November 2016 VA examination explicitly stated that the lung cancer was clearly caused by a history of smoking and did not relate it to any asbestos exposure or service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- left lung cancer, residuals of lung cancer, status post left pneumonectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1728922
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 1728922.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of eligibility to enroll in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for personal care services.
- Whole decision: Granted
An effective date of October 5, 2014, but not earlier, for the grant of service connection for renal cell carcinoma as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is granted.,An effective date of April 17, 2006, but not earlier, for the award of SMC on account of loss of use of a creative organ is granted.,An effective date of October 5, 2014, but not earlier, for the grant of service connection for left lung cancer as secondary to renal cell carcinoma is granted.,An effective date of October 5, 2014, but not earlier, for the award of SMC based on the housebound rate is granted.,The initial rating higher than 60 percent for renal cell carcinoma status post right nephrectomy is denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for cancer of the lower back, left lung cancer, prostate cancer, cancer of the left jaw, kidney cancer, cancer of left hip, and liver cancer. Service connection was granted for stomach cancer.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the appellant does not have service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including PTSD and cancers, due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his military service. The claim is denied.
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