The veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and rheumatoid arthritis were denied as there was no evidence of an in-service incurrence or a link to service.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence linking the claimed conditions to service, and the first onset of symptoms occurred many years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Pulmonary disorder, Rheumatoid arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2008
- Citation
- 0814032
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 609 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0814032.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is found to be in need of personal care services due to her psychiatric conditions and requires supervision, protection or instruction. The Board remands the case for further evaluation on whether participation in PCAFC program is in the best interest of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for travel expenses reimbursement was remanded due to the submission of an incorrect appointment date by the Veteran on his beneficiary travel claim. The Board requested the Veteran to resubmit the claim using the correct appointment date and issued a notice of decision.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic conjunctivitis urticaria, neck condition, rheumatoid arthritis, and rhinitis. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions and no in-service events or injuries to which they could be etiologically linked.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the remand instructions have not been completed as directed and another remand is necessary for further evaluation of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and rheumatoid arthritis.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.