The Veteran's COPD, diabetes, congestive heart failure, vascular problems, back pain, rib pain, and perforated pancreas are not the result of VA treatment. The Board finds that these disabilities were not caused by or the result of the March 2002 coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
The deciding factor: The April 2008 VA medical opinion concluded that it was less likely as not (less than 50/50 probability) that the Veteran's COPD, diabetes, congestive heart failure, vascular problems, back pain, rib pain, and perforated pancreas were caused by or the result of the March 2002 coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, diabetes, congestive heart failure, vascular problems, back pain, rib pain, perforated pancreas
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 8, 2010
- Citation
- 1008594
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 1008594.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing it to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. COPD is considered a disease associated with such exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune during service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD. The Veteran's COPD is presumed due to exposure to herbicides, but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to in-service exposure.
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