COPD decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a chronic respiratory disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to address the nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete opinions from a previous VA examination regarding the Veteran's lung disability and emphysema.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing a VCAA notice letter and obtaining an addendum to the August 2015 VA examination regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Dr. Hoffenbrook and other medical providers who have treated the Veteran for COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions in response to the August 2014 remand instructions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for COPD, also claimed as emphysema.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to newly received evidence, and the Veteran's representative requested that this be done in order to consider all available information before making a decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his period of active service, and the Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder and right elbow disability, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for reopening his claims due to lack of new and material evidence. The right elbow disability was also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is denied as there was no pending claim prior to February 29, 2012. The Veteran does not have COPD and the Board finds that his shortness of breath is due to cardiac disability rather than a pulmonary disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death and any asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is at least as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to asbestos and other toxic particulates in the engine room and auxillary machinery rooms while serving on a ship from 1976 to 1980. As such, the claim for service connection for COPD is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not related to service or to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is caused by his service-connected deviated septum and allergic rhinitis. The Board also found that there is no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or a chronic lung disorder (including chronic bronchitis and COPD).

The Veteran's service-connected right lobectomy with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is currently rated at 60 percent disabling as of May 9, 2014. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 31, 2007. Therefore, his claims for earlier effective date for TDIU and an extraschedular rating for PTSD were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing herbicide exposure during his service aboard the USS Constellation, and thus, he is not entitled to the presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development of certain claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a pulmonary examination to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory disorders. The TDIU claim is also deferred.