The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's COPD is related to exposure to missile chemical exposure during active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found it was at least likely as not that the in-service exposure contributed to the Veteran's COPD.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2018
- Citation
- 1827324
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 1827324.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to VA DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a need for further evaluation regarding the relationship between any identified pulmonary/respiratory disability, including bronchial asthma, and active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted the appellant's petitions to readjudicate her claims for service connection for heart disabilities and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. However, both claims are remanded due to new evidence submitted since the last decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining information about the qualifications of a VA examiner and completing a TERA memorandum. The claims for service connection are remanded.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,PTSD was granted with an initial rating of 30 percent, effective January 16, 2018. The rating was increased to 50 percent on September 15, 2020.
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