The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory and gastrointestinal problems are not related to his service, including exposure to chemical agents during testing at Edgewood Arsenal. The loss of feeling in his fingers and feet was also not linked to service.
The deciding factor: There is no credible evidence linking the current respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions to service, with the exception of a possible link to smoking. The Board found that any respiratory problems are more likely due to long-term smoking rather than exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory problems, gastrointestinal problems
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2012
- Citation
- 1239867
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 1239867.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disability other than sleep apnea. The claims for abdominal pain, type I diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an immune disorder are remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is granted with an effective date of August 5, 2021. Claims for other conditions are denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's claimed conditions are due to any incident of his period of active service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for gastrointestinal problems and PTSD, and denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The issue of a separate evaluation for bulimia nervosa was remanded.
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