The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD/emphysema, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim. The Board also found a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim based on exposure to smoke during a fire aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in December 1967.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's COPD/emphysema is related to his active service due to exposure to toxic fumes from a fire he helped fight aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in December 1967, despite conflicting medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD/emphysema
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20063802
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 20063802.
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.
- Partly granted
The 100 percent rating for lung cancer was discontinued effective November 1, 2024, as the Veteran's lung cancer is in remission and no longer active. The claim for a compensable disability rating for lung cancer residuals has been remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as a suicide attempt), and left shoulder disability. The claim for COPD/emphysema was remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted effective April 26, 2000. The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD/emphysema, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and carotid artery disease are denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed because the Appellant withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made. The issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death remains and will be remanded.
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