The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lung disorder, finding that it is likely as not to have had its clinical onset during his period of active duty. The Veteran also received a grant for TDIU based on his lung disability.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted due to the likelihood that the Veteran's pleural fibrosis with postoperative residuals of right lung decortication for an empyema is related to disease or injury incurred in service.
- Claimed conditions
- pleural fibrosis, residuals of right lung decortication for an empyema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2009
- Citation
- 0921704
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 0921704.
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: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected pleural fibrosis did not render him unemployable prior to October 20, 2017. The Board found that his other nonservice-connected conditions prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded three issues: entitlement to separate compensation for shortness of breath and rib pain associated with service-connected pleural fibrosis, as well as the issue of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's respiratory conditions are currently rated at 50 percent combined. Additional development is needed to address the relationship between the Veteran's symptoms and his service-connected conditions, as well as to determine whether he is unemployable.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment, and for consideration of all his service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for pleural plaques and pleural fibrosis, claimed as breathing problems due to asbestos is remanded for further development including obtaining private treatment records from a pulmonologist.
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.