The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a lung condition, claimed as due to asbestos exposure. The Veteran's VA treatment records show in-service and post-service shoulder complaints and a current diagnosis of shoulder pain. For his lung condition claim, additional medical evidence is needed to determine if he currently has a lung disability related to service exposure to asbestos.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new evidence was received which raises the possibility of substantiating the claims for left shoulder and lung disabilities, but the claims are still pending as they have not been fully evaluated by VA medical personnel.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Disability, Lung Condition (claimed as due to asbestos exposure)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 7, 2018
- Citation
- 18148316
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 18148316.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) exclusively due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status from August 31, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and higher initial ratings for psychiatric, left shoulder, right hand tremors, left hand tremors, and allergic rhinitis disabilities.
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