The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and squamous cell carcinoma of the neck, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for the former condition. The decision also noted that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange in service but did not find a causal link between his current conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The Board found no new and material evidence to support reopening of the claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, as the evidence did not relate the current condition to service. The squamous cell carcinoma of the neck was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Pulmonary disorder, Squamous cell carcinoma of the neck
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2014
- Citation
- 1445494
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 1445494.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for a heart disorder, Parkinson's disease, pulmonary disorder, skin rash, and posttraumatic stress disorder are dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, finding that there is no causal or etiological relationship between his current condition and any disease, injury, or incident during service. The Board considered all relevant evidence, including VA and private treatment records, as well as the Veteran's reported in-service exposure to various irritants, but concluded that smoking was the significant risk factor for developing COPD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's pulmonary disorder and its relation to service, particularly asbestos exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a neurological disorder, specifically restless leg syndrome (RLS). The pulmonary disorder claim is denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.