The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and an increased rating for diabetic nephropathy. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, nor was there sufficient medical evidence to establish a direct relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disability could not be linked to his active duty due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment. The diabetic nephropathy did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory disability, diabetic nephropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 25, 2018
- Citation
- 1804823
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 1804823.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various conditions associated with a stroke, including obstructive sleep apnea, depression, and diabetes mellitus type II.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, except for a few granted evaluations.
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