The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD and pulmonary fibrosis due to exposure to asbestos, chlorine gas, and other toxic chemicals used during service. The cause of death claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the COPD/Pulmonary Fibrosis claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos due to unavailable STRs, but noted that the appellant provided literature confirming the presence of asbestos at Fort Hood during service. The cause of death is inextricably intertwined with the COPD/Pulmonary Fibrosis claim.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, pulmonary fibrosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19192631
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 19192631.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's respiratory condition and his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's COPD precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, warranting a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for pulmonary fibrosis, finding it to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.
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