The Board has determined that the Veteran's nicotine dependence, lung disability (COPD), and hypertension are all service-connected as secondary to his nicotine dependence.
The deciding factor: Competent medical evidence established a link between the Veteran's nicotine dependence in service and his current lung disability and hypertension.
- Claimed conditions
- Nicotine Dependence, Lung Disability (specifically Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - COPD), Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2009
- Citation
- 0917799
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 0917799.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Denied
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- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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