The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability and thyroid disability, finding that the conditions are not related to service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
The deciding factor: The VA physician opined that the Veteran's COPD and asthma are less likely than not incurred in service, including due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The thyroid condition is also deemed unrelated to service, given its diagnosis more than 26 years after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory disability (COPD and asthma), Thyroid disability (multinodular goiter with papillary carcinoma)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19116386
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 19116386.
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 Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to an herbicide agent. Service connection for Parkinson's disease and a respiratory disability are denied. The cause of the Veteran’s death, congestive heart failure, is found to be related to his service-connected CAD.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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.