The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD/emphysema, an initial evaluation in excess of 60 percent for asbestosis, and entitlement to TDIU were denied. The claim for PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD/emphysema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2012
- Citation
- 1217988
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 1217988.
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.
- Partly granted
The 100 percent rating for lung cancer was discontinued effective November 1, 2024, as the Veteran's lung cancer is in remission and no longer active. The claim for a compensable disability rating for lung cancer residuals has been remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as a suicide attempt), and left shoulder disability. The claim for COPD/emphysema was remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD/emphysema, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim. The Board also found a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim based on exposure to smoke during a fire aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in December 1967.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted effective April 26, 2000. The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD/emphysema, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and carotid artery disease are denied.
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