The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right lobe bronchiectasis with COPD and service connection for emphysema were denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to January 14, 2005, or from November 20, 2007 through February 19, 2015, but his right lobe bronchiectasis with COPD was rated at 60 percent effective February 20, 2015. The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema secondary to the service-connected right lobe bronchiectasis with COPD was also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 6600 and 6601, which are used for chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis respectively. The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema secondary to his COPD was denied as there is no evidence that the emphysema is causally or etiologically related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral tinea pedis, Right lobe bronchiectasis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 28, 2016
- Citation
- 1644646
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 1644646.
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 right ear hearing loss is granted as service connected. The Veteran's TDIU claim from July 1, 2011 is also granted.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left knee and left shoulder disabilities, but granted a 10 percent rating for his bilateral tinea pedis.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for several conditions, including unspecified depressive disorder, right and left hand tremors, GERD, IBS, gastritis, chronic sinusitis, dermatosis of the arms, hands, and feet, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral tinea pedis, and a lumbar spine disability. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI and a compensable rating for migraine headaches.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety, bilateral tinea pedis, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral pes planus, low back strain, migraines, and non-specific respiratory condition as there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal.
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