The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking his pulmonary fibrosis to his military service, including exposure to asbestos. The Board found that the medical evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposure and his later diagnosed condition.
The deciding factor: There was no direct evidence showing a link between the Veteran’s in-service exposure to asbestos and his later diagnosed pulmonary fibrosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19104776
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary fibrosis as these conditions were not related to the Veteran's service, including his exposure to Agent Orange.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis were rated at 50 percent effective September 3, 2020. The Veteran was also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits from the same date.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory disorders, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current respiratory conditions to his service-connected left lower lung pneumothorax disability or to his military service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claims.
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