The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or after active duty and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service connection for COPD was denied because the condition first manifested many years after service, and is not linked to military service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's back disability did not increase in severity during service and is not shown to be related to any incident of service. The current disorder is not service-connected.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Back disability"}, {"condition_name":"Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)"}, {"condition_name":"Gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett's Syndrome"}, {"condition_name":"Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)"}, {"condition_name":"Hypertension"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 19, 2020
- Citation
- 20067664
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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