COPD decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the Veteran's lung conditions and their relationship to service, including exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners to address the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and lung disability claims. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations for his claimed conditions. The appeals will be reconsidered after the additional information and evaluations are obtained.

The Veteran's COPD is found to have its onset during service, and the Board grants service connection for a respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinion regarding his service connection claim.

The Veteran's claimed respiratory disabilities (asthma, emphysema, COPD and pneumonia) were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA opinions provided no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle injury and lung disorder, including COPD. The VA examiners concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to link these conditions to service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on February 15, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center were denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, COPD and a sleep disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's COPD and presumed exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability, including COPD and emphysema, was not incurred or aggravated during active service. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition is less likely than not related to his in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition, including COPD, asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether he has pulmonary hypertension related to his military service.

The Veteran's lung disorder, diagnosed as COPD, is not service-connected due to lack of a nexus between the condition and active service or service-connected asthma.,The Veteran's cardiac disorders are not service-connected because there is no evidence showing they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was diagnosed in service and has been continuous since then. The lung disability (claimed as Asbestosis, COPD, and Lung Cancer) is considered a direct service connection case based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for causes of death due to prostate cancer or ischemic heart disease, finding that neither condition was shown to have contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's lung disability is presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board grants service connection for COPD, pneumonia, and asthma.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her respiratory disability and TDIU prior to November 17, 2016 is being remanded due to the need to determine the appropriate diagnostic code based on the predominant respiratory disability. The AOJ must also consider whether an effective date earlier than November 17, 2016 should be assigned for granting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the etiology of his COPD and pulmonary hypertension disabilities. The examiner will need to consider the Veteran's service exposure to hazardous materials and chemicals.