The Veteran's service-connected status post left upper lobectomy for lung cancer is currently rated at 10 percent, which reflects moderate impairment to Muscle Group XXI. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show any local recurrence or metastases warranting a higher rating under DC 6819, and the Veteran's rib pain is considered at least as likely due to his lobectomy but not related to his service-connected lung cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- lung cancer, rib pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19105641
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of December 12, 2023, for a 50 percent evaluation of bipolar disorder and remanded the other issues for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, including lung cancer and cardio-pulmonary arrest, to address in-service toxic exposures.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of jurisdiction over the claims.
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