COPD decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and ensuring proper notification.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, diverticular disease, PTSD, COPD with sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for diverticular disease was not addressed in the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA opinions regarding whether his COPD and bilateral eye disability are related to his service-connected sinusitis or rhinitis.

The Board finds that the service-connected frostbite residuals did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death, as determined by a VA physician. The primary cause of death was COPD, which is not related to the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's COPD is found to be related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA pension examination to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD/emphysema, including as due to Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, as secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The lung disability claim remains in remand status due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability in service and denied the claim for bilateral hearing loss.,Pneumonia is not considered a disease incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service-connected disabilities or otherwise related to service. The claim will be re-adjudicated based on all evidence, including the January 2008 private medical opinion from Dr. Garganta.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not incurred during active service and is not related to a disease or injury in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent pulmonary disorder, including bronchitis, COPD, and restrictive lung disease, is being remanded due to insufficient development of the record. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung conditions, including idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, did not manifest during or as a result of his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, COPD, and hypertension have been denied as there is no diagnosed psychiatric disorder or evidence of a stressor related to military service. The Veteran's coronary artery disease has also not been linked to service.

The Veteran's lobectomy surgical residuals are rated as 100% disabling prior to September 1, 2011 and now rated at 60% thereafter. The Board has granted a higher initial rating for the service-connected lobectomy surgical residuals.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services provided by Capital Regional Medical Center from December 29, 2014 to December 31, 2014 was denied because he had coverage under a health-plan contract (Medicare) and thus did not meet the eligibility criteria for reimbursement.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their contribution to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and unverified service information.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, TDIU, initial and increased ratings for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as service connection for MAC infection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.