Citation Nr: 21073121 Decision Date: 12/07/21 Archive Date: 12/07/21 DOCKET NO. 17-52 276 DATE: December 7, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for interstitial lung disease to include pneumoconiosis is granted. FINDING OF FACT Interstitial lung disease to include pneumoconiosis has been shown to have originated during active service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for interstitial lung disease to include pneumoconiosis have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran had active service from August 1972 to July 1975. Service connection for a Respiratory Disability The Veteran contends that service connection is warranted for a respiratory disability, to include as due to in-service exposure to herbicides, chemical spray, asbestos, welding fumes and dust while performing his military duties aboard the USS Hancock. Service connection may be granted for chronic disability arising from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131. Service connection may be granted for any disease diagnosed after discharge, when all the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d). The service treatment records do not refer to a respiratory disability. The service personnel records note the Veteran's military occupation was electrical/mechanical equipment repairman and he served aboard the USS Hancock, an aircraft carrier A December 2011 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pulmonary evaluation stated that the Veteran "served aboard the USS Hancock, aircraft carrier with jobs that including deck grinding as well as exposure to asbestos in pipes above his bunk and exposure to welding fumes" without any respiratory protection. A March 2011 chest computed tomography study was noted to reveal "multiple focal clusters of tiny centrilobular nodules, in tree bud distribution, probably related to aspiration." The VA physician opined that "the CT scan findings may be related to prior exposure to deck grinding dust from exposure during time aboard the USS Hancock" and "there have been other reports of Navy seaman who developed abnormal chest imaging from such exposures with either the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis or sarcoidosis." A March 2020 VA evaluation states that the Veteran was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis. The examiner concluded that "therefore, while it is within the realm of medical possibility that his three year history of exposures is a contributing factor, it is less likely as not (less than 50/50 probability) a contributing factor considering his decades of exposure following military service. The Veteran has been diagnosed with pneumoconiosis. VA examiners have concluded that the diagnosed disability "may be related to prior exposure to deck grinding dust from exposure during time aboard the USS Hancock" and "it is within the realm of medical possibility that his three year history of exposures is a contributing factor" to the onset of the disability. The evidence is in at least equipoise as to whether pneumoconiosis originated during active service. Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, t Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) finds that service connection is warranted for interstitial lung disease to include pneumoconiosis. J. T. HUTCHESON Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board K.R. Kardian, Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.