The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence, but has remanded it for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis is related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim, but the case was remanded because there was no medical opinion linking the cause of death (pulmonary fibrosis) to service or any incident therein.
- Claimed conditions
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007552
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 21007552.
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: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% evaluation for COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis as of July 27, 2023, due to improper reduction from September 1, 2025.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for insomnia, memory loss, and hearing loss are dismissed. Service connection for pulmonary fibrosis is granted under the PACT Act.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board found that the grant of service connection for pulmonary fibrosis was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, but also noted conflicting medical opinions regarding its cause. Service connection is restored.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted an initial evaluation of 100 percent for COPD and associated conditions, including chronic pulmonary hypertension, from the date she filed her claim in April 2018.
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