The Board found that the Veteran's shortness of breath symptoms are not causally related to his military service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness from his service in Iraq. The VA examiner concluded that the symptoms were more likely due to physical deconditioning and respiratory failure.
The deciding factor: VA examiner opined that the Veteran's shortness of breath was due to physical deconditioning prior to September 2009 and due to respiratory failure as part of multisystem failure following September 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- Shortness of breath
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2015
- Citation
- 1552810
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 1552810.
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 service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for presumptive service connection for hypertension is granted, while the claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disease and shortness of breath are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence to support a diagnosis or onset of the claimed conditions during active duty.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for shortness of breath and chronic sinusitis, but denied non-compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis.
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