The Veteran's COPD is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's lung disability (including granulomatous disease, bullous lung disease, and noncancerous lung mass) is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's skin condition prior to August 10, 2022, on a basis other than the PACT Act, is granted due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease, duodenal ulcer, and GERD are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.
The deciding factor: Service connection is granted for COPD and lung disability (including granulomatous disease, bullous lung disease, and noncancerous lung mass) because the Veteran's current conditions are due to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection is granted for peptic ulcer disease, duodenal ulcer, and GERD as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Board resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,The skin condition (eczema) is granted on a basis other than the PACT Act due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,Service connection for peptic ulcer disease, duodenal ulcer, and GERD as secondary to service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, lung disability (including granulomatous disease, bullous lung disease, and noncancerous lung mass), eczema, peptic ulcer disease, duodenal ulcer, and GERD
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2026
- Citation
- 26001460
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 26001460.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for asthma and a 10 percent rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities were dismissed. The claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for eczema was denied, while the claim of entitlement to allergic rhinitis was not addressed as it pertained to different issues.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing it to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. COPD is considered a disease associated with such exposure.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD. The Veteran's COPD is presumed due to exposure to herbicides, but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to in-service exposure.
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