The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic disability manifested by respiratory damage, including as secondary to obstructive hydrocephalus. The decision found that there was no evidence linking the current respiratory disability to service or any service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the respiratory insufficiency is part of the residuals of the Veteran's obstructive hydrocephalus and not due to any event or injury in service, including a fire incident in 1968. The Board also noted the passage of many years between service separation and any documentation of a disability, which tends to weigh against a finding that a disease or injury had its onset in service.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory damage, obstructive hydrocephalus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 15, 2018
- Citation
- 1816426
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 1816426.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that prolonged exposure to solar radiation during service in Vietnam contributed substantially and materially to the Veteran’s death.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive hydrocephalus, right hand and foot numbness, bilateral vocal cord paralysis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive hydrocephalus, right hand and foot numbness, bilateral vocal cord paralysis, and respiratory disability as these conditions are not related to his active military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive hydrocephalus, headaches, and memory loss. The Board found that these conditions are not related to his military service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.