The Board denied service connection for a respiratory condition to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bullous disease, and residuals of a collapsed left lung. The veteran's arthritis of the cervical spine was rated at 20 percent, and his arthritis of the thoracic spine was rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding that the veteran had a chronic respiratory disorder during his period of active duty for training in June 1994, or that any preexisting respiratory conditions were permanently aggravated beyond their normal progression.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bullous disease, residuals of a collapsed left lung
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2008
- Citation
- 0816913
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.
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The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent evaluation for left knee meniscus, effective April 21, 2025, and an additional 20 percent rating was also granted.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased (Level 2) stipend in the PCAFC for the Veteran's caregiver due to the need for continuous supervision and protection based on the Veteran's medical conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues for further development and readjudication by the AOJ.
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