The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disability, finding that the lung nodules are not related to active service and rejecting any presumption of exposure to Agent Orange.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lung nodules were not found to be etiologically related to his active service due to lack of evidence linking them to in-service events or diseases, and because smoking history during service is not a valid basis for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- pulmonary disability, lung nodules
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18150919
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 18150919.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to procedural defects in the submission of the VA Form 10182, which was not an accepted format for appeal in the modernized review system.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal because his request for an extension of time to file a Board Appeal request was not timely, and good cause has not been shown.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's pulmonary disability, including asthma and COPD, is causally related to his toxic exposure risk activity during service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lung disability is remanded for a new medical opinion considering her service-related toxic exposure, including aerosolized mercury as a dental assistant and potential environmental exposures at Fort McClellan.
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