The Veteran's pleural calcification, plaque and left pleural thickening are related to in-service asbestos exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The pleural calcification, plaque and left pleural thickling were found to be related to the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- left pleural calcification, pleural calcification, left pleural plaque, left pleural thickening
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19109703
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,772 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19109703.
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 determined that the current VA examination and opinion are inadequate for addressing all relevant conditions, including fibrothorax, loculated effusions, and asbestos exposure. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for pleural calcification due to asbestos exposure, but denied service connection for COPD due to asbestos exposure. The COPD claim is based on the Veteran's smoking history rather than his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's pleural calcification has not been found to be compensably disabling at any time during the rating period on appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His pulmonary sarcoidosis with residual pleurisy, asbestosis, COPD, left pleural thickening, and hepatic involvement are currently rated at 30 percent.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.