The Board finds that the cause of death, metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the lungs, is not service-connected as it did not result from in-service asbestos exposure or herbicide agent exposure.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's fatal lung cancer was related to in-service asbestos exposure or herbicide agent exposure. The most competent and probative medical opinions indicate that the cause of death is metastatic renal cell carcinoma, which developed from untreated kidney cancer initially diagnosed in 2005.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic renal cell carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2018
- Citation
- 1805373
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 1805373.
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
The Veteran's metastatic renal cell carcinoma is service connected, and it caused the removal of his kidney and a jaw nodule.,Metastatic renal cell cancer led to the removal of the Veteran's left kidney and a metastatic nodule in the parotid gland.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, removal of a kidney due to renal cancer, and a metastatic nodule in the jaw for additional development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as his metastatic renal cell carcinoma was related to toxic exposure risk activity in service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's metastatic renal cell carcinoma is related to his active-duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
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