The veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability and PTSD were denied. The denial is based on the lack of evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors for PTSD, and the absence of competent medical evidence linking any current respiratory disorder to exposure to toxic herbicides.
The deciding factor: The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and therefore cannot be presumed to have experienced a qualifying stressor. The claims file lacks sufficient corroborative evidence to verify the claimed in-service stressors, which is necessary for service connection of PTSD. For the pulmonary disability claim, there was no competent medical evidence linking any current respiratory disorder to exposure to toxic herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- Pulmonary Disability, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2000
- Citation
- 0022191
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 0022191.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 7, 2022, while other claims were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
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