The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including COPD and emphysema, did not manifest during service or as a result of asbestos exposure. The obstructive sleep apnea was also determined to have no connection with service or asbestos exposure. The acquired psychiatric disorder was deemed unrelated to service.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current respiratory conditions are related to his military service, including any potential asbestos exposure. The obstructive sleep apnea is not linked to service or asbestos exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, emphysema, bullae of the lung (claimed as lung issue), obstructive sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1813072
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 1813072.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no competent evidence to support a finding that his current condition began in or as a result of service.
- Denied
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no current diagnosis of this condition during the appeal period.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
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