The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for disability from nicotine dependence or tobacco use, finding no probative evidence showing that his heart disease, lung disease, or other disabilities were incurred in or aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: The medical records did not show a direct link between the veteran's service and his current health conditions, including coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Nicotine dependence, Heart disease, Lung disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2003
- Citation
- 0308606
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,669 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0308606.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD and right hand scar, but denied service connection for other claimed conditions including diabetes type II, erectile dysfunction, headaches, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder injury, left hand injury, lower back injury, right shoulder injury, upper back injury, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.
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