The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service due to asbestos exposure. The claim was reopened based on new evidence provided by a private physician.
The deciding factor: The December 2010 private opinion provided by the Veteran’s physician established a nexus between the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and his in-service asbestos exposure, outweighing any indication that smoking caused the cancer.
- Claimed conditions
- squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080373
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, acknowledging that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding the relationship between the veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and his current condition.
- Denied
The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's death to his service, and denied the claim.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.