The Board granted a total 100 percent disability rating for the service-connected respiratory disability and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The March 2025 PFT results, when resolved in favor of the Veteran, showed an FEV-1 score of less than 40 percent predicted, warranting a total 100 percent disability rating. Additionally, from November 25, 2019 to April 17, 2022, and from July 1, 2024 forward, the Veteran met the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (respiratory disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- 25006942
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for chronic bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, and rhinitis were granted. The claims for service connection for right hand disability, right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, erectile dysfunction, bilateral shoulder disability, and left wrist disability were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for asthma, bronchitis, and COPD due to inadequate medical opinions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for asthma but denied all other claims, including service connection for various conditions and a compensable rating for scars between the scapulae.
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