The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lung condition, characterized as pleural effusions, is related to service, including asbestos exposure.
The deciding factor: An addendum opinion from a pulmonologist is needed to consider recent medical records and a favorable nexus opinion from Dr. P.C., which discusses benign asbestos pleural effusion (BAPE) and asbestos-related lung disease (ARLD).
- Claimed conditions
- pleural effusions, asbestos-related pleural disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21012712
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 21012712.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, pleural effusions, and fibrosis, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The case is being returned for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's respiratory condition, including asbestosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary asbestosis, asbestos-related pleural disease, asbestos-related pleural plaque, pneumoconiosis, and pulmonary fibrosis, is granted for accrued benefits purposes due to the probative evidence showing exposure to asbestos during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and need for new opinions on etiology. The claims include respiratory disorders, a low back disorder, and hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his respiratory disabilities, including COPD, borderline restrictive lung disease, pleural effusions, and scarring. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or service-connected coronary artery disease.
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