The Board denied the claims for service connection for sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, and a bilateral hip disorder. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not warrant ratings in excess of 10 percent, and he was found not to be unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish that the claimed conditions were related to military service or worsened by existing service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Sinusitis, Upper respiratory infection, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Peripheral vascular disease, bilateral lower extremities, Bilateral hip disorder, Patellofemoral syndrome and chondromalacia of the right knee, Patellofemoral syndrome and chondromalacia of the left knee, Chronic low back pain, scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine, Deviated nasal septum
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2009
- Citation
- 0911192
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed, and the claims for a compensable rating for the lower back scar, service connection for COPD, and peripheral artery disease were denied.
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.