The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability (asbestosis) is not etiologically related to his military service, including as due to any exposure to asbestos therein. Therefore, service connection for a lung disability, claimed as asbestosis, is denied.
The deciding factor: Minimal exposure to asbestos in service was less significant than the Veteran's many years of occupational exposure to asbestos following his discharge from service.
- Claimed conditions
- lung disability (asbestosis)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2013
- Citation
- 1322274
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 1322274.
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 Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, lung disability (asbestosis), and fatigue due to potential exposure to asbestos during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities. The main reasons are that there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if the lung disability (asbestosis) and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are related to service, particularly given the Veteran's reports of asbestos exposure during service. Additionally, the Board finds it necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s current degenerative arthritis of the left knee is aggravated by his service-connected Pellegrini-Steida disease.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but denied service connection for a lung disability. The lung disability claim is based on the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service, which did not result in a current diagnosis of asbestosis or any other respiratory condition related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lung disability, asbestosis, is related to his in-service exposure to asbestos while serving as a fire fighter. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.
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