The Veteran's service connection for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is granted. The other issues remain pending as the ratings have not been determined.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on a diagnosis of COPD, which is related to smoking and service records.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2010
- Citation
- 1003399
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1003399.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Board denied the appeal because the Appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal after receiving the SOC, and there was no evidence of circumstances warranting equitable tolling.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral pleural scar with obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disease, COPD and chronic bronchitis.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for chronic bronchitis, COPD, and emphysema but granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and an increased rating for the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, COPD, shortness of breath, and allergic rhinitis, to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
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