The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic pulmonary disease, diagnosed as interstitial lung disease, is related to in-service environmental exposure and grants service connection for this condition.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows a history of smoking but also indicates that the Veteran's current respiratory symptoms are more likely due to exposures during military service rather than his smoking habit alone.
- Claimed conditions
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1243456
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 1243456.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for interstitial lung disease is remanded and requires further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange herbicides during service and the relationship between his interstitial lung disease and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected COPD, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Pulmonary Hypertension. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, interstitial lung disease, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis. The claims for service connection were remanded.
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