The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema, DJD of the right hip, and osteoporosis due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.,A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran’s bilateral DJD of the hips and osteoporosis are etiologically related to active service, specifically to his exposure to ionizing radiation.
The deciding factor: The October 2017 VA examiner's opinions were deemed inadequate due to lack of rationale for comparing alcohol abuse and smoking as risk factors.
- Claimed conditions
- emphysema, degenerative joint disease (DJD), right hip, degenerative joint disease (DJD), left hip, osteoporosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Ionizing radiation
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 7, 2018
- Citation
- 18133049
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 18133049.
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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