The Board remands the claim for a new opinion on whether the Veteran's idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange and other toxins.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examination was inadequate as it did not provide a sufficient rationale to support its conclusion that the Veteran's idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is less likely than not caused by in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other toxins. The examiner also indicated such was not possible because specific substances were not identified in the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Recorder (ILER)/TERA, but this does not preclude a finding of service connection if the disability is otherwise related to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with chronic interstitial pneumonia with fibrosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25038025
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
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