The Board denied service connection for a respiratory/pulmonary condition other than a restrictive right lobe condition, including COPD, emphysema, OSA, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, and asthma/bronchial asthma. The claim for allergic rhinitis was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for the respiratory/pulmonary conditions based on a lack of nexus between these conditions and service.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory/pulmonary condition other than a restrictive right lobe condition, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), emphysema, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, asthma/bronchial asthma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20078089
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 20078089.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as service connected. The Veteran's infectious disease claim and stomach disability claim are remanded for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent depressive disorder and insomnia.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.
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