The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent respiratory infections has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus grants service connection for recurrent upper respiratory infections.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the recurrent upper respiratory infections began during military service, and the current symptoms are related to this history.
- Claimed conditions
- status post fracture right thumb with residual degenerative joint disease, recurrent upper respiratory infections
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 13, 2014
- Citation
- 1401696
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 1401696.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and a higher initial rating, finding no basis to award an earlier date or a higher disability rating based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus and recurrent upper respiratory infections are granted service connection. However, the Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further review.,Service connection for tinnitus is established based on continuity of symptoms since service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the Veteran's service treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine if his current upper respiratory infections are related to his inservice bacterial spinal meningitis.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right thumb disability and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 10 percent assigned.
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