The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle injury and lung disorder, including COPD. The VA examiners concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to link these conditions to service or any other relevant factors.
The deciding factor: VA examiners determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is not related to his in-service ankle sprain due to lack of chronicity and no objective evidence linking it to an old injury. For lung disorder, VA examiners concluded there was insufficient evidence to link COPD to asbestos exposure or service-connected deviated nasal septum.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a right ankle injury, Lung disorder (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 21, 2017
- Citation
- 1723346
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 1723346.
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 remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right hand and right ankle injuries due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings for the Veteran's left and right ankle injuries, chronic kidney disease, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee. However, a 10 percent rating was granted for hypertension.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied. The claims for service connection for a lung disorder (COPD), sleep apnea, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were remanded, and the issues are now pending again. The right ankle injury remains rated at 10 percent, while degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is also remanded.
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