The Board denied service connection for a respiratory condition, including bronchitis and COPD, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service.,The Board also denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that the Veteran's CAD was not caused by his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no probative evidence linking the respiratory condition to service, with the most likely etiology being long-term smoking. The VA examiner found that the bronchitis in service was acute and did not result in a chronic condition.,The VA examiner concluded that there is no link between the Veteran's CAD and his military service, as the first objective evidence of CAD was 30 years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory Condition, Heart Disease/Coronary Artery Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18102662
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 18102662.
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 has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a respiratory condition due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions, specifically whether they were caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities. The Veteran will be provided with another VA examination to address these issues.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD and denied ratings in excess of 50 percent for OSA, IBS, and headaches. The Board also granted service connection for right elbow, left wrist, neck, and left leg shin splints conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran was granted entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from November 1, 2022, due to his service-connected heart and respiratory conditions. The effective date requested by the Veteran is considered.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to address a theory of entitlement, requiring a new VA examination for the respiratory conditions.
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