Denied
The Board denied service connection for COPD and chronic kidney disease stage 3, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
The deciding factor: The August 2024 VA medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's COPD was at least as likely as not caused by in-service exposure to asbestos, but this was outweighed by the November 2024 VA medical opinion which found that smoking was a more persuasive risk factor for developing COPD.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Chronic kidney disease stage 3
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25108287
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