The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was etiologically related to his in-service asbestos exposure, and therefore service connection for a respiratory disorder is granted. The issue of residuals of hairy cell leukemia remains on appeal as there are inconsistencies regarding the Veteran's reported asbestos exposure.
The deciding factor: The September 2014 VA examination found no evidence of asbestos exposure but did not rule out the possibility entirely based on the Veteran's testimony and medical research linking various cancers to asbestos exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory Disorder (COPD), Hairy Cell Leukemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1511592
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 1511592.
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 Board remands the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and sleep apnea due to pre-decisional errors in verifying all periods of service and failing to obtain necessary examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension, respiratory disorder (COPD), and obstructive sleep apnea for further development to obtain medical opinions addressing their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a respiratory disorder (COPD) and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection is sought for a respiratory disorder, including as due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's service records show he had upper respiratory infections in 1970 and 1972, which may be related to his current COPD diagnosis.,The Veteran seeks service connection for GERD, claiming it developed from his service-connected disabilities or due to herbicide agent exposure. A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that further development is necessary to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and his claimed Hairy Cell Leukemia, which may be due to Agent Orange exposure.
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