The Board denied service connection for postoperative residuals of a mycobacterial avium-intracellulare (MAI) infection of the right lung, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion was more probative than the Veteran's assertions and other submitted evidence, as it considered the silence of the Veteran's service treatment records for any complaints, symptoms, findings or diagnoses related to a lung infection; his significant risk factor of long-term tobacco use; and the decades-long interval between the Veteran’s separation from active duty and the development of his lung infection.
- Claimed conditions
- postoperative residuals of a mycobacterial avium-intracellulare (MAI) infection of the right lung
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2018
- Citation
- 18122195
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 18122195.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's postoperative residuals of a mycobacterial avium-intracellulare (MAI) infection of the right lung, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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