The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for nicotine dependence, cancer of the larynx (claimed as secondary to smoking in service), peripheral arterial disease (claimed as secondary to smoking in service), and arthralgia of multiple joints (claimed as secondary to smoking in service) are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a link between any of these conditions and the veteran's period of active service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking the current disabilities to the veteran's period of service, including his smoking during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Nicotine dependence, Cancer of the larynx, Peripheral arterial disease, Arthralgia of multiple joints
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 10, 2000
- Citation
- 0006496
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 0006496.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to obtain additional private treatment records and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his death.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of February 5, 2020, for the grant of service connection for peripheral arterial disease and a 100 percent evaluation for heart disease.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for PTSD and nicotine dependence, but granted ratings for left knee limitations in flexion, extension, and patellar instability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions were denied in the April 2020 rating decision. The Board is denying these claims based on finality of the decision and lack of new evidence or arguments.
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