COPD decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and further consideration of the issues.

The Board has determined that further development of the record is needed before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's lung conditions, including pulmonary fibrosis and granulomatous disease, were granted service connection for accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection was also granted for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to pending appeals for increased evaluations and service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records, as well as a VA examination to determine if any current respiratory disorders or malaria are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and an inadequate examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disabilities, including BOOP, COPD, and asthma, did not have their clinical onset in service or for many years thereafter and are not otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent pulmonary disorder, including pulmonary hypertension and COPD, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or for decades after separation. The Board also found it less likely than not that any current condition is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's asthma/COPD and hypertension have been rated based on their severity, with the initial rating for COPD being granted at 30 percent. The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to July 21, 2009, and is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to afford the Veteran a hearing.

The Veteran's COPD and right upper lobectomy have not met the criteria for a higher rating, as their severity does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 60 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD, diagnosed based on his combat service in Iraq, is granted. His respiratory disorder (COPD), chronic nosebleeds, sleep apnea, and skin disorder are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI with vertigo, nausea and headaches, COPD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), and left hand disability are all denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's asthma, later diagnosed as COPD, was rated at 30 percent from November 20, 2011 to February 17, 2015. Service connection for tinnitus and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disease, including COPD and histoplasmosis, was not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Veteran claims service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asbestosis. The VA has not completed the necessary investigation to verify his claimed asbestos exposure and has not obtained all relevant medical records. A remand is required to investigate the Veteran's exposure history and obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis and the cause of death due to asbestosis and COPD in February 2006. The Veteran's asbestosis was not shown to be related to his military service, and there is no evidence that he developed these conditions from exposure during service.,In December 2015, a VA opinion concluded that the Veteran's current asbestosis and COPD are not causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease was denied, and his claim for TDIU benefits was also denied as the evidence did not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.