The veteran's claim for service connection for nicotine dependence resulting from tobacco use in service is denied as it is prohibited by law due to the date of his claim being after June 9, 1998.
The deciding factor: The veteran filed his claim after the effective date (June 9, 1998) when Congress prohibited the grant of service connection for disability resulting from disease attributable to the use of tobacco products during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Nicotine Dependence
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 12, 2000
- Citation
- 0027117
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0027117.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations.
- Whole decision: Granted
From June 3, 2016, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms are best described as manifesting by total occupational and social impairment. His PTSD is rated at a maximum of 100 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for various conditions, including nicotine dependence, coronary artery disease, neuropathy of the legs, loss of vision in the left eye, cataracts, atrial fibrillation, obesity, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes mellitus, porokeratosis, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The Board found that new evidence did not establish a relationship to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of his PTSD symptoms and address claims that his condition has worsened. The case will be readjudicated based on all evidence.
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