The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, but the claim for COPD was denied. The issue of a compensable rating for pleural thickening was remanded.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, while the evidence against finding that the Veteran's COPD began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease was persuasive.

Claimed conditions

hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pleural thickening

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

Agent Orange / herbicides

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

January 16, 2025

Citation

25000681

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