The Board denied service connection for COPD, Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, and Loss of Balance as the evidence did not show an in-service event, injury or disease to these conditions.,Service connection was also not granted for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking the condition to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs were silent for any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis related to COPD, Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, and Loss of Balance. The earliest post-service records showing these conditions are from years after separation from service.,There is no evidence linking the onset of these conditions to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Loss of Balance
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 4, 2014
- Citation
- 1453469
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 1453469.
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 the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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