The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a thoracotomy due to spontaneous pneumothorax did not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his symptoms were attributed to non-service connected conditions.
The deciding factor: VA examination concluded that the Veteran's current symptoms were not due to his service-connected disability and were secondary to other factors such as smoking and occupational exposures.
- Claimed conditions
- Postoperative residuals of a thoracotomy, Spontaneous pneumothorax
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 13, 2009
- Citation
- 0913756
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0913756.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's spontaneous pneumothorax is not rated higher than noncompensable due to his lung function scores.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including ADHD, is remanded as the AOJ failed to obtain a medical opinion addressing all relevant theories of entitlement.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's spontaneous pneumothorax resolved does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The issues of increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to new evidence or change in disability status.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's lung disability, including any additional symptoms such as chest pain with breathing and exertion.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability, right knee scars, and spontaneous pneumothorax due to incomplete development of the record.
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