The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pleural plaques do not warrant a higher evaluation as his symptoms are primarily due to nonservice-connected emphysema.
The deciding factor: Pulmonary function tests showed an obstructive defect, but the examiner concluded that the impairment was more likely related to the veteran's severe emphysema from cigarette smoking than to his service-connected bilateral pleural plaques.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral pleural plaques
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2008
- Citation
- 0817169
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 0817169.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 claim for a lung condition, to include COPD, asbestosis, and bilateral pleural plaques due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service and his current lung condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for a higher disability rating was dismissed because the January 2024 rating decision implemented a previous Board decision and is not appealable. The Veteran will receive a separate decision regarding their September 2024 VA Form 10182.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pleural plaques disability and obtaining any outstanding records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral pleural plaques is remanded due to uncertainty regarding the impairment caused by his service-connected disability versus his nonservice-connected conditions and possible impact of his aortic valve replacement and cardiac rehabilitation on PFT findings.
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