The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the primary cause of his COPD, left hip disability, right hip disability, skin disability, and sleep apnea. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.
The deciding factor: PTSD causes increased arousal states which can lead to nicotine use (cigarette smoking), resulting in COPD; PTSD also causes bronchospasms leading to GERD exacerbation of COPD; the Veteran's reported helicopter crash injury is found to be the primary cause of his bilateral hip disabilities and aggravates his service-connected lower extremity neuropathies; kidney disease from GERD aggravates psoriasis; PTSD is found to be clinically correlated with sleep apnea, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, left hip disability, right hip disability, skin disability, sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- July 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24038329
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 A24038329.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- 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 issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
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