The appeals for service connection for a back disorder, COPD, and increased ratings for chronic prostatitis have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder), which is now granted. Service connection for Bipolar Disorder is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a back disorder, COPD, and increased ratings for chronic prostatitis prior to the Board's decision.,New evidence received since the final November 2014 rating decision raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder).
- Claimed conditions
- Back Disorder, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Abdominal Disorder, Precancerous Lesions
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2018
- Citation
- 18143594
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 18143594.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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 asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining a new examination and further developing evidence related to toxic exposure during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as a pre-decisional duty to assist error was found regarding the Veteran's COPD, and he needs an appropriate VA examination.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for COPD as secondary to diabetes and denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy conditions, while dismissing claims related to upper extremity neuropathy.
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