The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) based on the Veteran's conceded herbicide exposure during active service.
The deciding factor: The most probative evidence of record, a February 2024 private medical opinion, supported the conclusion that the Veteran's COPD was etiologically related to his conceded herbicide exposure during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2025
- Citation
- 25007961
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 32% (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 25007961.
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.
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The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, liver disorder (MASLD), and COPD are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate evidence. The claim for service connection is also remanded.
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The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthma, eczematoid dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports and the need for new VA examinations.
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The Board has granted service connection for metastatic lung cancer and pleural effusion as secondary to service-connected metastatic lung cancer. Service connection is being remanded for COPD, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis due to the need for additional development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further development. The issues include aortic aneurysm, cerebrovascular small vessel disease, COPD, and emphysema.
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