The Veteran's death was caused by diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, which the Board finds is service-connected due to exposure to silica fibers in service. The claims for accrued benefits based on pending claims for service connection for various conditions are also granted.
The deciding factor: Service connection established for diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis as a result of exposure to silica fibers during military service and secondary service connection found for other listed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Interstitial lung disease, Polymyositis, Left shoulder disability, Right shoulder disability, Left hip/thigh disability, Right hip/thigh disability, Left knee disability, Right knee disability, Irritable bowel disease, Chronic fatigue syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2017
- Citation
- 1751805
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 1751805.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's entitlement to higher level of SMC at the intermediate rate is granted, effective from January 8, 2021. He was previously in need of aid and attendance due to his left knee disability since February 1, 2017, and now has additional disabilities rated at 50 percent or more.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the case for further action on heart disability. The decision regarding right shoulder disability is that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current diagnosis of right knee strain is related to his military service.
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