The Board found that the veteran's emphysema and CAD are not related to his active duty, including exposure to asbestos. The cancer of the larynx is not service-connected as it is not linked to his service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for emphysema and CAD was denied on the basis that there is no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active duty or any presumptive exposure to asbestos.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show a direct link between the veteran's current conditions (emphysema, CAD, and cancer of the larynx) and his service or any potential exposure to asbestos during service. The condition of emphysema is presumed to be related to service only if it becomes disabling within one year of separation from active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- Emphysema, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Cancer of the Larynx
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 10, 2006
- Citation
- 0606944
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
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