The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, is determined to be related to his in-service exposure to radiation. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on presumptive service connection due to radiation exposure.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion linked the Veteran’s lung cancer to his military service and radiation exposure, meeting all three elements necessary for service connection (incurrence, link to service, and nexus).
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Ionizing radiation
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 18, 2020
- Citation
- A20008808
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A20008808.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his exposure to environmental toxins at Fort Riley and/or Fort Lewis, including herbicides, pesticides, or other toxic chemicals during his active-duty service. The AOJ must obtain further research and provide a VA clinician with the necessary information to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's lung cancer and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus and metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, which were presumed to be due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Guam. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected obstructive lung disease, breathing problems, and chronic cough contributed to his death from lung cancer. The decision grants service connection for the cause of death.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, is not service-connected as it was not caused or etiologically related to his period of active service at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran’s lung cancer to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
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