The Board has determined that the Veteran's right esophago-pleural fistula is not service-connected, as it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected pleural thickening. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right arm disability has been withdrawn.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's esophago-pleural fistula is related to his active service or any service-connected condition, including pleural thickening.
- Claimed conditions
- right esophago-pleural fistula, pleural thickening
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 15, 2012
- Citation
- 1228112
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1228112.
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: Granted
The Board granted an initial 60 percent disability rating for pleural thickening, effective May 17, 2018.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, but the claim for COPD was denied. The issue of a compensable rating for pleural thickening was remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's shortness of breath with pleurisy and pleural thickening is related to multiple bouts of pneumonia during his service, which resulted in a current disability. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lung nodules, left lung nodules, pleural thickening, and pulmonary fibrosis due to pre-decisional failures of duty to assist in obtaining missing service treatment records and inadequate examinations. The VA is required to undertake additional efforts to obtain these records and prepare a TERA memorandum addressing the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) and asbestos in service.
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