The Board has determined that the veteran's terminal interstitial fibrosis was at least as likely as not caused by exposure to herbicide agents during his period of active service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions provided by a thoracic surgeon and an internal medicine physician support the conclusion that the veteran's terminal pulmonary fibrosis was due to Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2008
- Citation
- 0805488
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 0805488.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for another VA medical opinion to address the Veteran's in-service toxic exposure, including asbestos and other claimed exposures.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, was related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's in-service exposure to histoplasma and his idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for interstitial lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board also remanded two issues regarding peripheral neuropathy.
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.