The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum from the June 2016 VA examiner and ensuring compliance with M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual requirements regarding service connection claims for asbestos-related diseases.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were discrepancies between the two potentially competing medical opinions and required a resolution of these discrepancies to determine whether the Veteran has a current disability at any point in the appeal period, including during service.
- Claimed conditions
- pulmonary disorder, emphysema, pleural plaques
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 23, 2017
- Citation
- 1709100
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 1709100.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lung condition, including pneumonia residuals, COPD, and emphysema, is remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service. The appeal is reopened based on new evidence.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking readjudication of the previously denied claim for PTSD and multiple other conditions is dismissed due to a procedural defect. The Veteran's authorized representative at the time the appeal was submitted did not have the authority to file the appeal.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, emphysema, and prostate cancer as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including COPD with emphysema (claimed as lung condition due to exposure of asbestos due to MOS), is remanded. The VA will provide an examination and obtain medical opinions regarding whether any diagnosed respiratory conditions are related to military service, particularly given the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos.
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