COPD decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims file to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including lung cancer with scarring, COPD, chronic bronchitis, peripheral neuropathy of both feet, and polycythemia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is related to service, specifically his Southwest Asia service. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran currently has residuals of asbestos exposure that could be the cause of his chronic respiratory disease. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain any records from private and VA medical care providers related to treatment for respiratory disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hand contractions, leg contractions, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not related to asbestos exposure or an inservice chest injury, and thus denied service connection for COPD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending before the Board.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain missing service records and VA examinations for the Veteran's respiratory and nerve disorders. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was substituted as the claimant for his pending claims of service connection for respiratory disability, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disability, and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions are related to in-service exposure to carbon tetrachloride.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining information about his service in Korea and the 7th Ordnance Company.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary/respiratory disability, including asbestosis, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection is denied for COPD, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome/Sleep Apnea, breathing problems (including bronchitis and emphysema), peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, ingrown toenails of lower extremities, GERD, and edema of lower extremities.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, is not etiologically related to his military service, specifically asbestos exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed pulmonary disorder, including COPD, is not shown to be related to service or herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed respiratory disability, including allergies, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The claims will be reviewed in light of new evidence and medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary asbestosis does not cause any lung involvement, and his current breathing difficulties are due to non-service-connected COPD. As such, a compensable evaluation for pulmonary asbestosis is denied.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to deficiencies in the RO's handling of the previous remand and other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disability is not related to service, specifically his in-service episode of pneumonia. The claim for service connection for residuals of pneumonia is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and Asthma are not related to service, including exposure to asbestos or other environmental factors.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's respiratory disorder and his service, nor did it find any link between his bilateral foot disorder and his military service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including as due to asbestos exposure, is being remanded for additional development.