The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners noted the Veteran's long history of smoking several packs per day and the low probability of asbestos exposure in service. The November 2014 examiner also pointed out that asbestosis typically presents itself about 20-30 years after exposure, not within the Veteran's almost 60-year timeline.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory disorder, interstitial lung disease, asbestos lung disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19136670
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 19136670.
What this means for you
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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 claims for service connection must be remanded due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The Veteran's skin disorder, respiratory disorder, Crohn's disease, eye disorder, and migraines are all being reviewed again with new medical evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence. The Board is unable to determine if there was a factual increase in disability prior to the effective dates requested, or if service connection should be granted based on the current evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC(r)(1) rate effective May 13, 2024. The decision is based on his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities that require aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC(r)(1) rate effective May 13, 2024. The decision is based on his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities that require aid and attendance.
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