The Board remands the claim for service connection of lung disease, to include IPF and COPD, due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to coal, coal dust, and human waste during his military service.
The deciding factor: Remand is necessary to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to coal, coal dust, and human waste while performing his MOS-related duties from December 1957 to May 1961, as a potential TERA, and to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his lung disease.
- Claimed conditions
- lung disease, to include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25052632
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lung disease, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran due to his conceded toxic exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for asthma and entitlement to TDIU. The Board will consider additional evidence submitted by the Veteran or representative at the hearing or within 90 days following the hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remanded the claims for service connection for bladder cancer and lung disease to correct errors in assessing toxic exposures during service.
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