The Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or incident related to the lungs or breathing, and his COPD is not linked to service. His bilateral hearing loss did not warrant an increased rating beyond 90 percent. His hemorrhoids were rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's pulmonary disability was not shown to have originated in service or be related to any incident during service, and his COPD is attributed to smoking rather than service exposure. The hearing loss did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of impairment. His hemorrhoids were rated at the maximum schedular rating due to large, thrombotic, irreducible hemorrhoids with frequent recurrences.
- Claimed conditions
- Pulmonary disability (claimed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Bilateral hearing loss, Hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- October 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24066177
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24066177.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
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