The claims for service connection for COPD, a lumber spine disability (post laminectomy syndrome), sleep apnea, hepatitis C, angina post laminectomy syndrome, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease to include coronary artery disease status post CABG, and a skin rash have all been denied.,The claim for service connection for the cause of death has also been denied.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence linking any of these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure. The Veteran's death was due to cardiopulmonary arrest caused by coronary artery disease, with diabetes mellitus type II listed as a contributory cause.,The medical records do not support the claims for service connection and there is no evidence of chronic diseases within one year post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, lumber spine disability (post laminectomy syndrome), sleep apnea, hepatitis C, angina post laminectomy syndrome, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease to include coronary artery disease status post CABG, skin rash
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003662
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20003662.
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 claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim for major depression to encompass any mental health disability raised by the record and has remanded six issues for additional development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
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