The Veteran's idiopathic interstitial fibrosis with pleural plaques is found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service asbestos exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.
The deciding factor: Service personnel records confirm the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during his Navy service. The Board finds an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis was caused by or resulted from his military service, granting service connection in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- idiopathic interstitial fibrosis, pleural plaques
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006564
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include pulmonary hypertension, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and obstructive and restrictive lung diseases, due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's respiratory disability, including pleural plaques and COPD.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed because the veteran passed away during the pendency of the appeal. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case for a new VA examination to ensure compliance with prior directives and to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's respiratory disability.
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