The Veteran's asbestosis with bibasilar atelectasis is granted due to service exposure, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found a minimal probability of exposure to asbestos in service, but the private physician found the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service. The conflicting opinions are given equal weight, and the benefit-of-the-doubt is conferred in the Veteran's favor.
- Claimed conditions
- asbestosis, bibasilar atelectasis, parenchymal fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19152689
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 19152689.
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 remands the claim for a lung condition, to include COPD, asbestosis, and bilateral pleural plaques due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service and his current lung condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to address service connection and rating issues.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for asbestosis, finding that the Veteran's exposure to asbestos in service caused his condition.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for asbestosis and remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). An increased rating to 60 percent was granted effective April 10, 2025.
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