The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory condition including COPD, RLD and tuberculosis. Service connection for sleep apnea is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current respiratory disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), restrictive lung disease (RLD), tuberculosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21008360
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 21008360.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tuberculosis, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to conflicting evidence and need for further evaluation.
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The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, liver disorder (MASLD), and COPD are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate evidence. The claim for service connection is also remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma, eczematoid dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports and the need for new VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for tuberculosis, heart disability (claimed as open-heart surgery), kidney failure, and a disability manifested by pain and numbness in the bilateral upper extremities due to presumed exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service.
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