The veteran's coccidioidomycosis is characterized by chronic pulmonary mycosis with minimal symptoms, such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough. The Board finds that a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's service connected coccidioidomycosis with lobectomy, right upper lobe, and resection, right fifth rib has not been met.
The deciding factor: The absence of dyspnea for several years following the right upper lobectomy, the onset of progressive exertional dyspnea and pulmonary function impairment at a later age, and a significant cigarette smoking history all pointed to COPD as the etiology of the veteran's respiratory impairment. The physician opined that it is 'less likely than not' that COPD was caused by or was a result of the resection of the right upper lobe for coccidioidomycosis with onset of dyspnea.
- Claimed conditions
- coccidioidomycosis with lobectomy, right upper lobe, and resection, right fifth rib
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 22, 2008
- Citation
- 0816841
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,643 · Granted: 15% (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 0816841.
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