The Board has determined that the veteran's restrictive lung disease is service-connected due to exposure to 'chemical agent resistant coating' paint during his tour of duty in the Persian Gulf.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found a history of exposure to hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and abnormal pulmonary function tests, leading to a diagnosis of restrictive lung disease related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Restrictive lung disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 7, 2003
- Citation
- 0304028
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 504 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0304028.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left shoulder, left sinus tarsi syndrome disorder, right sinus tarsi syndrome disorder, left ankle condition and right ankle condition.,Service connection was granted for restrictive lung disease, lumbosacral strain condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral metatarsalgia condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's September 4, 2024 HLR request was improperly rejected by the AOJ. The Board finds that the request is timely and valid, and reinstates the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board found that the original grant of service connection for restrictive lung disease was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus granting restoration of service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD and restrictive lung disease, is related to his active service.
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