The Veteran's service-connected bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent, as his pulmonary function test results do not indicate values to less than 40 percent predicted or exercise capacity below 15 ml/kg/min.
The deciding factor: Pulmonary function test results did not show FEV-1, FEV-1/FVC or DLCO to be less than 40% predicted and maximum exercise capacity was above 15 ml/kg/min.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2012
- Citation
- 1210400
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 1210400.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, Crohn's disease, and bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax for accrued benefits purposes due to an unresolved issue regarding whether the appellant qualifies as a 'child' eligible for VA benefits. The RO is instructed to adjudicate this matter.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The issue of a compensable rating for his bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax is remanded due to new evidence suggesting worsening.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax has contributed to a decrement in pulmonary function testing and FVC values, warranting a 10 percent disability rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.