The Board denied service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine with demyelinating sensory polyneuropathy as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected left ankle disability.,The Board denied service connection for COPD, concluding that there is no evidence showing its onset during service and finding that it is more likely related to tobacco abuse rather than an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: There was insufficient medical evidence linking the DDD of the lumbar spine with demyelinating sensory polyneuropathy to a service-connected left ankle disability.,The VA examiner found no causal link between the Veteran's COPD and his in-service exposure, as it is more likely related to tobacco use.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with demyelinating sensory polyneuropathy, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18144353
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 18144353.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed, and the claims for a compensable rating for the lower back scar, service connection for COPD, and peripheral artery disease were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, COPD, a gastrointestinal disability, and migraines due to lack of evidence supporting a link between these conditions and her military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a right knee disability, as there was no probative evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active service or were related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.
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