The Board has decided that the Veteran's breathing problems and lung condition may be related to his in-service exposure to burn pits, asbestos, and other chemicals. However, due to insufficient evidence, a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are service-connected.
The deciding factor: The examiner needs to assess whether the Veteran's current respiratory/lung conditions are at least as likely as not caused by or related to his in-service exposure to hazardous materials during his duty in Greece.
- Claimed conditions
- breathing problems, lung condition
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2022
- Citation
- 22050681
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 22050681.
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 Veteran's lung condition and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded for additional development to determine if they are related to service, specifically his in-service pneumonia. The claims will also be reviewed for secondary service connection due to the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lung condition, including pneumonia residuals, COPD, and emphysema, is remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service. The appeal is reopened based on new evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the March 2025 VA medical opinion, which did not consider the Veteran's theory of entitlement regarding his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The claim for service connection for breathing problems is denied. The claim for service connection for OSA is remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
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