The Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and reactive airway disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to Agent Orange or fuel vapors. The claim was denied.
The deciding factor: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and reactive airway disease are related to the Veteran's long history of tobacco use rather than any incident during service, including exposure to herbicides or fuel vapors.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Reactive Airway Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2012
- Citation
- 1242745
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 1242745.
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: Granted
The Board granted service connection for Reactive Airway Disease, Allergic Rhinitis, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), and denied service connection for Chronic Sinusitis and Heart Valve Disease. The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the August 2000 rating decision that denied service connection for allergic rhinitis with reactive airway disease (claimed as asthma and upper respiratory infection). The Veteran's condition was not noted at enlistment, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to show it pre-existed service. As a result, the Board granted service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by service or a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no other link between the Veteran's death and his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's OSA with RAD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.
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