The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's principal causes of death (cardiorespiratory arrest, acute respiratory failure, and emphysema) to his active service or any service-connected disability. The Board also found no evidence suggesting a relationship between Agent Orange exposure and the Veteran's conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's COPD was less likely caused by in-service pneumonia and symptoms of wheezing and rhonchi, attributing it instead to his long-term cigarette smoking. The Board found this opinion sufficient to deny service connection for cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiorespiratory arrest, acute respiratory failure, emphysema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2023
- Citation
- 23006698
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 23006698.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's lung condition, including pneumonia residuals, COPD, and emphysema, is remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service. The appeal is reopened based on new evidence.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking readjudication of the previously denied claim for PTSD and multiple other conditions is dismissed due to a procedural defect. The Veteran's authorized representative at the time the appeal was submitted did not have the authority to file the appeal.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, emphysema, and prostate cancer as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including COPD with emphysema (claimed as lung condition due to exposure of asbestos due to MOS), is remanded. The VA will provide an examination and obtain medical opinions regarding whether any diagnosed respiratory conditions are related to military service, particularly given the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos.
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