The Board has granted service connection for restrictive lung disease and residuals of traumatic brain injury, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to environmental and chemical hazards.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's residual TBI, including headaches, visual photosensitivity, and cognitive impairment (memory and concentration), based on credible evidence linking these symptoms to his combat experience.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current restrictive lung disease developed as a result of his confirmed in-service exposure to environmental and chemical hazards during his tour of duty for one year in Afghanistan, with VA medical opinions supporting this finding.,For his TBI residuals, the Board noted that the Veteran engaged in combat while serving in Afghanistan and provided credible evidence linking these symptoms to his service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Restrictive lung disease, Residuals of traumatic brain injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2021
- Citation
- A21017508
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 A21017508.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left shoulder, left sinus tarsi syndrome disorder, right sinus tarsi syndrome disorder, left ankle condition and right ankle condition.,Service connection was granted for restrictive lung disease, lumbosacral strain condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral metatarsalgia condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's September 4, 2024 HLR request was improperly rejected by the AOJ. The Board finds that the request is timely and valid, and reinstates the claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of TBI, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for such a rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board found that the original grant of service connection for restrictive lung disease was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus granting restoration of service connection.
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