The VA denied the veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 because his pulmonary disorder is not causally related to a permanent pacemaker implantation procedure in May 1998, and did not result from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar incidence of fault on the part of VA.
The deciding factor: The veteran's current pulmonary condition is more likely due to his prior history of COPD and emphysema rather than the pacemaker implantation procedure that caused a pneumothorax.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0619563
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 0619563.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for COPD as secondary to diabetes and denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy conditions, while dismissing claims related to upper extremity neuropathy.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) as he does not meet the criteria for an increased rate based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for COPD, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
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