The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis and COPD, claiming these conditions as due to exposure to herbicides and printing press chemicals. New evidence submitted by the veteran indicates he was exposed to toxic chemicals while operating a printing press in Vietnam. The Board will proceed with further development to determine the etiology of any current respiratory disorder.
The deciding factor: The new medical opinion from Dr. R.R.S. indicated that the veteran had a history of exposure to chemicals such as potassium hydroxide, ammonium thiosulfate, methyl alcohol, formaldehyde, and ink, which was related to his current diagnosis of chemical pneumonitis.
- Claimed conditions
- bronchitis, COPD
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 30, 2003
- Citation
- 0336648
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 0336648.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's COPD precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, warranting a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
- 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.
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.