The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax and granted service connection for COPD. The evidence shows that the veteran had a spontaneous left lung collapse in service, which resolved without residual disability. However, his current COPD is not related to this event but rather due to years of smoking.
The deciding factor: The Board found new and material evidence showing that the veteran's current COPD is more likely caused by long-term smoking than by a spontaneous pneumothorax in service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax of the left lung, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 1, 2006
- Citation
- 0615887
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 0615887.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a respiratory disability to obtain an adequate VA examination and additional evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, hiatal hernia, COPD, and prostate cancer as a result of toxic exposure during the Veteran's military service.
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