The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to metastatic carcinoma of the lung, finding that there was not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding a nexus between the Veteran's cancer and service. The Board found the VA examiner's opinion more probative than the appellant's assertion.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's cancer was likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure, which is not consistent with the appellant's assertions.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic carcinoma of the lung
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2022
- Citation
- 22050824
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 22050824.
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: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status due to incomplete development, including verifying herbicide exposure during service. The claim for death pension benefits is dismissed as moot.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic carcinoma of the lung, is related to his military service. The VA needs to provide an opinion on this issue.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of VA negligence in his care. The cause of death was lung cancer, which developed after the Veteran left active duty.
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