The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of all respiratory diagnoses and symptoms, including borderline restrictive lung disease. The Veteran's VA treatment records must be updated, and an addendum opinion is needed from a pulmonologist regarding whether his respiratory disabilities are related to herbicide exposure or asbestos exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the initial examination did not adequately address all respiratory diagnoses and symptoms, including borderline restrictive lung disease. The Veteran's contention is that his respiratory disabilities are due to asbestos exposure, which has already been conceded by VA.
- Claimed conditions
- borderline restrictive lung disease, pleural effusions, scarring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2021
- Citation
- 21024619
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 21024619.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial ratings for kidney cancer and scarring from treatment have been denied as there is no evidence of compensable residual conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), including scarring, is remanded due to incomplete examination reports.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 0 percent for pseudofolliculitis is remanded due to inadequate examination and failure to consider new evidence.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for scarring was dismissed due to a procedural error.
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