The Veteran's COPD with bronchitis and bronchiectasis has not more nearly approximated the criteria for a higher disability rating, and thus his appeal is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran's FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC meets the criteria for a higher disability level under DC 6604. The Veteran also did not meet the criteria for a higher disability level under DC 6601 due to lack of incapacitating episodes and findings of cough with purulent sputum.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD with bronchitis and bronchiectasis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 22, 2017
- Citation
- 1734600
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1734600.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an increase in his rating for COPD with bronchitis and bronchiectasis was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective January 20, 2009.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination of his service-connected COPD with bronchitis and bronchiectasis, as well as obtaining any outstanding medical records.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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