The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic small cell lung cancer, is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure. The Appellant's original DIC claim would have been allowed if the PACT Act had been in effect at the time of filing. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted with an effective date of November 1, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served at U-Tapao Airfield between December 1969 and February 1971, which falls within the PACT Act's expanded presumption period. Service connection for a respiratory cancer is granted on a presumptive basis when exposure to herbicide agents has been conceded.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic small cell lung cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2026
- Citation
- A26030571
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 A26030571.
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 has granted service connection for metastatic small cell lung cancer, liver metastases of primary lung cancer, and osseous and hepatic metastases of lung cancer on a secondary basis due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no persuasive evidence linking the Veteran's death to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is granted effective June 1, 2019, based on service connection for the cause of death due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents at Udorn RTAFB.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic small cell lung cancer, is denied as there is no evidence to support a connection between the condition and his military service or exposure to asbestos or herbicides.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.