The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as pulmonary fibrosis and lung scarring. The Board has determined that the April 2015 VA opinion is inadequate for adjudication purposes due to its failure to address the Veteran's contention of exposure to cleaning chemicals during his first period of service and service treatment records from March 1991 showing complaints of chest pain and cough, and a diagnosis of bronchitis. The case is REMANDED for an addendum opinion.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the Veteran's contention that he began to experience respiratory symptoms during his first period of service or service treatment records from March 1991 showing complaints of chest pain and cough, and a diagnosis of bronchitis.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory disability, pulmonary fibrosis, lung scarring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2017
- Citation
- 1700265
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 1700265.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, restless leg syndrome, and respiratory disability due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.
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