The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition to include COPD was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, is granted based on VA's concession of in-service stressors. Service connection for liver problems is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his respiratory condition and service, but the Board found that there was sufficient evidence to grant service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder related to in-service stressors.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory condition (COPD), acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19171316
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 19171316.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for service connection for GERD and skin cancer. The claims of service connection for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and a respiratory condition (COPD) are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for an anxiety disorder was dismissed, and the appeals for service connection for Parkinson's disease, a respiratory condition (COPD), a heart disability (coronary artery disease), rhinitis, diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, respiratory condition, skin condition, CAD, and diverticulosis due to inadequate examination findings. The examiner is asked to address whether these conditions are related to service, including exposure at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Service connection for a respiratory condition (COPD) is denied because the condition is attributed to smoking, which is not related to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and history of heart attack or myocardial infarction secondary to PTSD is remanded as there is no evidence that the Veteran's alcohol abuse was caused by his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for stroke secondary to PTSD is remanded as there is no evidence that the Veteran's alcohol abuse was caused by his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for impairment of sphincter control and anal reconstruction is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of coronary artery disease and history of heart attack or myocardial infarction secondary to PTSD.
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