Service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as chronic pneumonia and breathing difficulties is denied.,Service connection for the cause of death due to pneumonia (immediate cause) and COPD (which the Veteran had for years) is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support finding that the respiratory disability began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Veteran's MS was severed from his record, making secondary service connection for a respiratory disability impossible.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic pneumonia, breathing difficulties
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2022
- Citation
- 22069240
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 22069240.
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 service connection for chronic pneumonia and increased rating for major depression have been granted. The Veteran's sinus headaches are not rated higher than the current 30 percent evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for breathing difficulties or a respiratory disability, including asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, asbestosis, and chronic sinusitis, due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic pneumonia, and COPD due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.
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