The Veteran's service-connected left spontaneous pneumothorax does not result in any current disability, and therefore a compensable rating is denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's current respiratory symptoms are caused by nonservice-connected lung disease, not his service-connected spontaneous pneumothorax.
- Claimed conditions
- left spontaneous pneumothorax
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1511344
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1511344.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and left spontaneous pneumothorax due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs a VA examination for both conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied a compensable rating for left spontaneous pneumothorax as the Veteran's condition is not shown to warrant such a rating based on his medical records and examination findings.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated opinions from private physicians and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's respiratory disorders and left spontaneous pneumothorax.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left spontaneous pneumothorax is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that suggests a relationship between his current COPD and lung cancer diagnoses and his military service. The Board must now evaluate whether he should be granted service connection for these conditions.
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