The Veteran's service-connected COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and organic heart disease have been granted. The rating for organic heart disease has been increased to 100 percent effective from September 22, 2020.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during military service. The Veteran's COPD is related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's organic heart disease manifested with functional impairment consistent with workloads of 1 to 3 METs resulting in symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, angina, and dizziness from September 22, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Organic Heart Disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 28, 2022
- Citation
- 22037165
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 22037165.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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