The Board granted service connection for chronic bronchitis and COPD secondary to asbestos exposure, assigning a noncompensable evaluation which was later increased to 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the veteran's COPD and chronic bronchitis were as likely as not due to asbestos exposure in service, with daily use of inhalation therapy being required for management of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic bronchitis, COPD
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 19, 2003
- Citation
- 0313289
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 0313289.
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 asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's respiratory condition and his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial compensable rating for non-allergic rhinitis, denied service connection for gastrointestinal anal cancer, and granted service connection for chronic bronchitis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
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.