COPD
Across 1,894 real Board appeals for COPD
64% were granted, partly granted, or remanded.
A denial is often not the end — remands are sent back for more development and frequently end in a grant.
- Granted 13%
- Partly granted 17%
- Remanded 35%
- Denied 28%
What tends to win
Among the appeals that were granted or partly granted, the most common ways COPD was linked to service:
- Direct service connection332
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)75
- Secondary to another service-connected condition49
How it’s rated, in practice
When COPD was granted, the rating most often assigned was:
- 100% (130)
- 30% (34)
- 60% (20)
- 10% (15)
- 70% (14)
Presumptive & exposure paths
These appeals involved a recognized exposure — which can mean the link to service is presumed, with no nexus to prove:
- Agent Orange / herbicides174
- PACT Act134
- Burn pits & airborne hazards68
- Camp Lejeune water34
- Gulf War33
Real decisions
- Granted
The Veteran's COPD precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, warranting a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea, finding a causal link to toxic exposures during the Veteran's period of active service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on in-service exposure to herbicide agents and burn pits during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for COPD, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and COPD, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board granted an increased (Level 2) stipend in the PCAFC for the Veteran's caregiver due to the need for continuous supervision and protection based on the Veteran's medical conditions.
What you can do next
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.