The Veteran's lung condition, characterized by lung scarring and calcified pleural plaques, was evaluated as noncompensable (0%) from August 24, 2015 to June 27, 2017. Beginning June 27, 2017, a 30% evaluation for the condition is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lung function tests showed FVC and DLCO (SB) within normal or near-normal ranges until June 27, 2017, when they began to decline. The Veteran has not exhibited severe pulmonary impairment such as FVC of less than 50% predicted, DLCO (SB) of less than 40% predicted, maximum exercise capacity of less than 15 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation, or cor pulmonale or pulmonary hypertension.
- Claimed conditions
- lung scarring, calcified pleural plaques
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19112259
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 940 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19112259.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's lung scarring is rated at 30% and effective from August 9, 2023. The TDIU was granted earlier than April 5, 2011 but the Board denied an earlier effective date.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for calcified pleural plaques due to the Veteran's exposure to asbestos in service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for right and left lower extremity residuals of cold injury disability from April 5, 2011 to August 8, 2023, but denied a higher rating thereafter. The claims for increased ratings were remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for lung scarring and remanded the other issues for further development.
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