The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an increased rating for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease with hypertension and congestive heart failure, a compensable rating for anxiety reaction, and a compensable evaluation for malaria. The evidence did not support secondary service connection for any of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion indicated no relationship between the veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disorder and his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and there was no evidence of residuals from the veteran's service-connected malaria.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety reaction, Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease with hypertension and congestive heart failure, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Malaria
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2004
- Citation
- 0408440
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 464 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0408440.
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 Veteran's death was caused by acute hypoxic respiratory failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with hypertension as a significant contributing factor. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's complete military records and treatment records.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted higher levels of SMC and aid and attendance special monthly compensation effective May 3, 2024, due to his service-connected conditions that require regular aid and assistance.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disability due to a lack of current disabilities and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
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