The Board has granted service connection for respiratory disabilities of interstitial lung disease and chronic bronchitis, finding that they were due to presumed Agent Orange exposure during active service.
The deciding factor: A VA examiner opined it was at least as likely as not that the Veteran's diagnosed respiratory disabilities were caused by herbicide exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Interstitial lung disease, Chronic bronchitis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 13, 2021
- Citation
- 21021556
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 21021556.
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 Veteran's appeal is about whether he should be granted a separate compensable rating for his chronic cough disability, which is distinct from his service-connected respiratory disabilities. The Board finds that the VA did not properly address this issue and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran has a separate chronic cough disability.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of interstitial lung disease, and the appeal is dismissed.
- Dismissed
Your appeal for service connection of interstitial lung disease has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The case will not be reconsidered until a new claimant is found eligible.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by interstitial lung disease, which is presumed to be related to his service-connected exposure to Agent Orange. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
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