The Veteran's bladder cancer and COPD are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a direct link to his military service. The Board found that the Veteran's smoking history was more likely the cause of these conditions.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded for further review.
The deciding factor: Service connection is denied because there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current diagnoses to his military service. The Board found that smoking was a more likely cause of the Veteran's bladder cancer and COPD than exposure to toxic substances in service.,The claims for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- Bladder Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Allergic Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26036753
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 A26036753.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
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The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability, including coronary artery disease, as these conditions are found to be proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
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