The Board granted the reduction of the Veteran's coronary artery disease rating from 60% to 30%, effective February 1, 2013. The Veteran was previously rated at 60%. Service connection for a lung disability (COPD) and skin disability were denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's COPD was secondary to his years of cigarette smoking and not due to herbicide exposure in service, while the hyperpigmentation and erythema of the neck were found to be related to treatment for lymphoma. The reduction in CAD rating from 60% to 30% was granted as it reflected an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Lung Disability (COPD), Skin Disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 25, 2018
- Citation
- 1805006
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 1805006.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, cervical spine disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for OSA and a skin disability, as well as the claim for service connection for OSA secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits is not considered new evidence, but his assertion of aggravation by PTSD is.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with a 50 percent rating for PTSD. The claims of service connection for a skin disability and gastrointestinal disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.
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