The Veteran seeks service connection for a pulmonary disability, including as due to exposure to asbestos. The case is being remanded for additional development.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not identify any current pulmonary or respiratory ailment in the Veteran's September 2015 VA examination, but diagnosed chronic asthmatic bronchitis based on his own clinical judgment and treatment records. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these diagnoses are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- pulmonary disability, chronic asthmatic bronchitis, asbestosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1750814
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 1750814.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's asbestosis disability is rated at 100% from December 2, 2024 to January 16, 2026. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis with pleural plaques and vascular dementia as secondary to asbestosis with pleural plaques due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's asbestosis was granted an increased rating of 10 percent, but no higher. Service connection for sleep apnea was denied.
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