The Board denied service connection for lung and heart disorders, to include as the result of asbestos exposure, due to a lack of evidence showing a relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposure and his current conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no credible evidence linking the Veteran's lung and heart conditions to his in-service asbestos exposure or service in general, citing the absence of symptoms during service and the opinion of the VA examiner.
- Claimed conditions
- lung disorder, heart disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2021
- Citation
- 21063229
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a heart disorder, specifically atrial fibrillation, due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty service in the Republic of Vietnam.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to a claims processing error, as there was no adjudicative determination from which the Veteran could file a notice of disagreement.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for heart disorder, stroke residuals, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to obtain addendum opinions addressing specific risk factors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.