The Veteran's osteoarthritis of both hips was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicide agents. The respiratory disorder (chronic bronchitis) may be related to exposure to toxic chemicals, including herbicide agents, at McChord Air Force Base. Arteriosclerotic heart disease is also linked to exposure to toxic chemicals.,The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicide agents. The respiratory disorder (chronic bronchitis) may be related to exposure to toxic chemicals, including herbicide agents, at McChord Air Force Base.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not find a current disability in the February 2012 examination and concluded that osteoarthritis of both hips is more likely due to aging. The respiratory disorder (chronic bronchitis) may be related to exposure to toxic chemicals, including herbicide agents, at McChord Air Force Base.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis of both hips, Respiratory disorder (chronic bronchitis), Arteriosclerotic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 26, 2018
- Citation
- 18160312
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 18160312.
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
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