The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, squamous cell cancer of the lymph nodes of the neck, and prostate cancer as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other environmental toxins. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, but he did not serve in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not have documented service in Vietnam or near the Korean DMZ where herbicide exposure was presumed.
- Claimed conditions
- lung cancer, squamous cell cancer of the lymph nodes of the neck, prostate cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20002265
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, related to in-service exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 25, 2014, for service connection for prostate cancer.
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