The Board granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied increased ratings for coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, status post lobectomy.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's combined effects of his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU. However, the evidence did not support increased ratings for coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation and COPD and lung cancer, status post lobectomy.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, status post lobectomy, Coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25098193
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 907 · Granted: 35% (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 A25098193.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation are denied. The case is remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not due to his service-connected disabilities, and there is no evidence indicating these conditions should be service connected.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus do not warrant a higher evaluation, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities associated with his diabetes.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.