The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and allergic rhinitis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's COPD, asthma, and allergic rhinitis were less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service event, injury, or disease. The evidence showed acute illness during service and a diagnosis many years after discharge, which did not support a direct link to service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, allergic rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 29, 2025
- Citation
- 25007294
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine pain, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent yeast infections. The claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and left knee pain were remanded.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with major depressive disorder, recurrent, and alcohol use disorder in early remission, as well as TDIU due to asthma and SMC at the housebound rate.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
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