The Board denied service connection for COPD, GERD, hypertension, heart condition (including tachycardia and chest pain), and liver condition as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty training.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions manifested during or were caused by the Veteran's service, except for COPD which was determined to be due to tobacco use and thus barred under 38 U.S.C. § 1103.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Hypertension, Heart condition, including tachycardia and chest pain, Liver condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25032209
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.