The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to asbestos exposure as there is not enough evidence in the claims file to determine whether or not a nexus can be shown between the Veteran's exposure in service and his current symptoms. A medical opinion is required.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient evidence in the claims file to determine if the Veteran’s lung disorders are causally related to service due to asbestos exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- centrilobular emphysema, pleural plaque of the lungs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19153735
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,948 · Granted: 29% (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 19153735.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma, sleep apnea, and centrilobular emphysema.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for a lung disability, other than lung cancer. The Veteran's lung disabilities include centrilobular emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lung disability, specifically his centrilobular emphysema. The VA needs to provide additional opinions addressing both exposure to aviation fuel and herbicides (Agent Orange).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's pulmonary disability and its relationship to service exposure. The VA needs to obtain updated medical records, schedule a new examination, and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service.
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.