The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances during service and its relation to his current condition of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination by a pulmonologist.
The deciding factor: The previous medical opinions were deemed insufficient or speculative, leading to a remand for further clarification.
- Claimed conditions
- cryptogenic organizing pneumonia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26024732
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 A26024732.
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 Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service and his cause of death, including early signs of leukemia. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions on these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to cryptogenic organizing pneumonia and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or any other compensable exposure.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and tuberculosis, are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of asbestos exposure or any other form of exposure during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, were not incurred or aggravated in service. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against finding entitlement to service connection for these conditions on any basis.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.