The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking his small cell carcinoma to his military service or exposure to radiation or chemicals.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's in-service exposures and his development of small cell carcinoma, which was primarily attributed to tobacco use.
- Claimed conditions
- small cell carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19176848
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,038 · Granted: 30% (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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19176848.
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 Veteran's skin disorders, including verruca vulgaris, small cell carcinoma, seborrheic keratosis, erythematous hyperkeratotic scaly plaque, squamous cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis are being remanded for further examination to determine their relationship to service. The residual scars from basal cell carcinomas and a sebaceous cyst are also being examined. The rating for chloracne is also being remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the service member's death was caused by his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The appellant must provide updated VA and private treatment records, and a new opinion is needed from a VA clinician.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran died of small cell carcinoma, which is not service-connected. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain records and clarify the cause of death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.
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