The Veteran claims service connection for a pulmonary lung disease due to in-service exposure to asbestos. The Board finds that VA has a duty to investigate whether the Veteran may have been exposed to asbestos in service as claimed and requests information regarding the likelihood of such exposure from any appropriate agency. Additionally, the Veteran should be requested to identify any VA or non-VA healthcare provider who treated him for his pulmonary lung disease and obtain all identified records. If it is determined that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service, he should be afforded a VA examination so as to determine the current nature and etiology of his pulmonary disorder.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that there may have been exposure to asbestos in service but needs to verify this through further investigation and obtain records from any appropriate agency. Additionally, a VA examination is needed if exposure is confirmed to assess the current condition and its relation to service.
- Claimed conditions
- pulmonary lung disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 14, 2015
- Citation
- 1539086
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 1539086.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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
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- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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