The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic bilateral airway disease disability, hernia disability, and atrial fibrillation disability. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to active service.
The deciding factor: The medical records do not support a current diagnosis of the claimed conditions and the Veteran's statements regarding his history of valley fever are not credible given the STRs which did not document such a condition.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic bilateral airway disease disability, hernia disability, atriial fibrillation disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20038792
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 20038792.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Granted
The Veteran's digestive condition, including diverticulosis and gastrointestinal issues such as GERD, reflux esophagitis, and gastritis, had its initial onset during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acne, hernia disability, bowel disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and lumbosacral strain as there is no persuasive evidence to support these claims.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multilevel degenerative disc disease, hernia disability, and lung disability due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hernia, lumbosacral strain, left and right knee strains, and left and right shoulder strains due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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