The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of COPD and emphysema are not on the list of diseases presumptively associated with herbicide exposure. There is no evidence suggesting these conditions developed due to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange or other chemicals in Vietnam. Additionally, there is no probative evidence showing a link between the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and his current respiratory disorder.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of COPD and emphysema are not on the list of diseases presumptively associated with herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). There is also no probative evidence suggesting these conditions developed due to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange or other chemicals in Vietnam. Furthermore, there is no evidence showing a link between the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and his current respiratory disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2009
- Citation
- 0938872
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 0938872.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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