The Board finds that the appellant's currently diagnosed respiratory disorder, back disability, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are not related to his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence in the service medical records indicating any respiratory or musculoskeletal issues. The first documented treatment for COPD was approximately 19 years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory disorder (COPD), Back disability (ankylosing spondylitis and degenerative joint disease of the spine), Degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2004
- Citation
- 0432133
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 0432133.
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 determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is incomplete and requires further clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, including two claimed inservice collision injuries.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding no in-service incurrence or link to service and rejecting the presumption of herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service and no causal relationship between the current disability and any service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a respiratory disorder (COPD) due to additional development needed.
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