The Veteran's fungal infection of the lungs and bloodstream with lung scarring, fluid drainage from the brain, and joint pain are not deemed to be due to VA care or treatment. The Board finds that any additional disability is not caused by VA fault.
The deciding factor: VA did not find evidence of causation between the Veteran's conditions and the prescribed medications (Humira) without informed consent.
- Claimed conditions
- Fungal Infection of the Lungs and Bloodstream with Lung Scarring and Shortness of Breath, Fluid Drainage from the Brain, Joint Pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2015
- Citation
- 1551189
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 1551189.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), liver condition, joint pain, intestinal condition, kidney condition, sleep apnea, vein condition, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and lumbar spine disability have all been granted.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a sleep disorder, diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea, and denied service connection for joint pain. The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent, with initial ratings of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy being granted.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by fatigue, joint pain, and muscle aches, as well as for a right shoulder strain. However, it denied claims for compensable ratings for tension headaches, chronic sinusitis, and dermatitis.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for joint pain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.
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