COPD decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is being remanded due to inconsistencies in his smoking history and the need for a new VA opinion regarding exposure to chemicals during military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to arrange for a Board hearing. The issues include reopening his claim for cervical degenerative disc disease, service connection for PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, and insomnia, as well as an increased disability rating for lumbar strain and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emphysema/COPD is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for scars associated with coronary artery disease, reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD, but denied service connection for respiratory disorder.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain pertinent medical records and clarify the opinions provided by the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's hypertension and COPD claims, particularly in relation to service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, did not manifest during service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any event, injury, or disease of service origin, to include exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current COPD is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis requires an initial 100 percent rating due to his need for outpatient oxygen therapy, which raises a reasonable doubt about whether part of this condition is attributable to his COPD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is considered secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder, including as secondary to the service-connected PTSD, has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination by a pulmonologist. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability (COPD) is not related to service, including in-service exposure to herbicides. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim was also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for COPD and/or asthma, but denied it on the merits. The Veteran's pulmonary disability is considered secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral vision loss, a psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic headaches, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis of the left shoulder, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and respiratory disability, to include sinusitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining treatment records from Dr. Cohen and providing VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is being remanded due to the need for an examination and additional development of his claims file.

The Veteran seeks service connection for COPD, which is not subject to presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's in-service exposures are related to his current COPD on a direct basis and to determine the relationship between increased cigarette smoking during and post service and his COPD.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disability, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current pulmonary disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disorder (COPD) did not have its onset during service or is otherwise related to his period of active service. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as it relates to a preexisting condition.

The Veteran's lung disability, including COPD, was not caused or aggravated by his service.