The Veteran's claims for service connection for shortness of breath and chest pain secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a separate, nonservice-connected disability manifested by these symptoms.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's shortness of breath and chest pain were at least as likely as not due to or caused by his service-connected anxiety disorder but noted other potential etiologies such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Other potential causes for the symptoms, including cardiac or respiratory disorders, chest wall pain, and shingles, had been investigated and ruled out.
- Claimed conditions
- Shortness of breath, Chest pain
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2013
- Citation
- 1337657
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 1337657.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for claims related to an increased rating and service connection, as well as lack of jurisdiction over a previously granted claim for sinusitis.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for presumptive service connection for hypertension is granted, while the claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disease and shortness of breath are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence to support a diagnosis or onset of the claimed conditions during active duty.
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