COPD decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of any psychiatric disorders, asthma, and COPD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal conditions, obstructive sleep apnea with paralyzed right hemidiaphragm and COPD, and cystic disease of the right kidney.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD, asthma, emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis are related to his in-service exposure to asbestos, fumes from Persian Gulf fires, and plutonium nitrate. The VA expert medical opinion supports this finding.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and sleep apnea due to asbestos exposure are denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the local RO.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, including a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death. The claim will be reconsidered after all necessary actions have been taken.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic lung disorder, including COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. The effective date for TDIU was not changed as requested.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD. However, the Veteran's current COPD is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his use of tobacco products which in turn led to COPD.

The Veteran's pulmonary disability, including residuals of a left pneumothorax with exploratory thoracotomy and pleurodesis, bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is rated at the 60 percent level.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lung disability, including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, emphysema, and COPD. The examiner is requested to clarify whether these conditions are defects or diseases, and provide an opinion as to their relationship with service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and a supplemental VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorders.

The reduction of the assigned disability rating for lung cancer from 100 percent to 0 percent, effective December 1, 2010, was proper. The Veteran's lung cancer had been in remission and there were no active symptoms or complications related to his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including presbyopia and COPD, were not shown to be related to service or due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and COPD, which may be related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's COPD was not incurred in active service and the claim for a respiratory disorder other than COPD is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his active duty service, and determined that it was more likely caused by a 100+ pack-a-year smoking history.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a respiratory disorders examination to determine if his current respiratory conditions are related to service. The PTSD rating will also be reconsidered.