The veteran's claims for service connection for nicotine dependence, lung condition including pulmonary embolism and left leg deep venous thrombosis, and left ear hearing loss disability were denied as there was no evidence of in-service onset or current manifestations.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran acquired nicotine dependence, lung disease, or left ear hearing loss during service. The service records do not show any such conditions, and the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Nicotine Dependence, Lung Condition to include Pulmonary Embolism with Left Leg Deep Venous Thrombosis, Left Ear Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2002
- Citation
- 0213927
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 0213927.
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)
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- Partly granted
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthma and direct service connection for asthma. The claim for left ear hearing loss was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating of left ear hearing loss to obtain missing VA audiometric data.
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