COPD decisions — 2017

The Veteran's COPD is not service-connected and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected asbestosis.,There is no evidence of a current liver or spleen disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the Veteran's submission of a September 2015 statement and an Informal Hearing Presentation. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis, and his COPD and emphysema are more likely due to tobacco use rather than service. As such, the claims for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and updated treatment records. The initial ratings for his depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and asthma with COPD are under review.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a lung disorder, including but not limited to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), due to trichloroethylene exposure. The preponderance of the evidence is against this claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, respiratory disability (COPD), and hiatal hernia. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability and respiratory disability are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claim for pulmonary fibrosis has been granted. From November 16, 2010 through February 13, 2012, the Veteran was awarded a 20% rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), was caused by asbestos exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed respiratory disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and reasoning in its April 2015 decision, requiring a new VA examination for all diagnosed respiratory conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, respiratory disorder (including asthma, emphysema and COPD), skin disorder of the hands, and chronic dizziness and lack of balance. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or exposure to chemicals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and DIC benefits, finding that his COPD was not caused by military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining psychiatric treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder did not manifest in service and is not etiologically related to any in-service event or injury, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic respiratory disorders, including asthma, COPD and emphysema, are related to her military service exposure to smoke and fumes from burning oil pits during her deployment in Southwest Asia. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's lung disability is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, and he has a current diagnosis of heart disease. The Board finds that the Veteran's heart disease is associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and emphysema on a substitution basis, finding that the Veteran's exposure to toxic fumes in service was causally related to his later diagnosis of these conditions.