The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, and laryngitis were incurred as a result of his in-service full-body exposure to mustard gas. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence clearly shows that the veteran was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, and laryngitis which are all diseases etiologically related to qualifying full body mustard gas exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, laryngitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 1, 2001
- Citation
- 0115265
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 0115265.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for neurologic signs or symptoms due to toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune and remanded the claim for further development regarding bronchitis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, COPD, asthma, and plantar fasciitis as not being related to the Veteran's military service. The Board also denied an increased rating for painful malunion of the left clavicle, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for emphysema and pulmonary hypertension, finding that the Veteran's emphysema was caused by active service, including participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA), and that his pulmonary hypertension is secondary to his emphysema.
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