The VA determined that the veteran's current COPD is not related to service, including exposure to asbestos or other potential causes. The Board concluded that the COPD is more likely due to the veteran's long-term cigarette smoking.
The deciding factor: VA medical evidence does not support a link between the veteran's current COPD and his military service, including any potential asbestos exposure or tobacco use during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Pulmonary disorder, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), Bronchitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 26, 2006
- Citation
- 0615585
Veterans Law Judge
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 0615585.
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.
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The Veteran's initial disability rating for bronchitis with asthma is granted at a 60 percent level through December 26, 2023. The rating of 10 percent between December 27, 2023 and November 11, 2025 is denied. A higher rating since November 12, 2025 is also denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression, a neck disability, and COPD due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is denied for groin disability as there is no persuasive medical or lay evidence of a current disability related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 30, 2018, for the evaluation of bronchitis is granted. The Board found that the Veteran continuously pursued his claims and the AOJ erred in denying the claim based on incorrect appeal form submission.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
For the period prior to June 3, 2024, a 40 percent evaluation for degenerative disc disease L4-5 (lumbar disability) is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, an evaluation more than 40 percent for a lumbar disability is denied.
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