COPD decisions — 2017

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased disability rating for coronary artery disease and service connection for COPD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's restrictive lung disease and COPD are not related to his service or service-connected maxillary sinusitis, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD was denied as it is not related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected carcinoma of the lungs. The Board also found that he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to April 1, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory diagnoses are not related to his in-service treatment for bronchitis and pneumonia, and thus denied service connection.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disorder, specifically COPD and emphysema, is not related to his active military service, including ACDUTRA. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are linked to service.

The Veteran's current lung disabilities, other than the already service-connected restrictive lung disease, were not caused by an event in service; and are not proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service connected disabilities. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including COPD and pneumonia, are not related to his active service or herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD, is not service connected as it did not develop due to an in-service injury or incident. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the current respiratory disability is related to the Veteran's smoking history.

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office did not substantially comply with its prior remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to them for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, is not related to service or exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during service, specifically at an unidentified ammo dump in 1967. The Veteran contends that his current COPD is related to this exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are not addressed due to lack of evidence or further development needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and asthma with COPD and OSA have been granted. The effective dates are September 4, 1998.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was reopened, and he is now entitled to a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD prior to January 22, 2016. His kidney cancer has been granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand, which could impact his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a respiratory/lung disorder. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's bilateral pulmonary hyperinflation is found to be related to his service-connected respiratory disabilities and thus granted for recharacterization purposes only. The Veteran's service-connected respiratory disability is now classified as including bilateral pulmonary hyperinflation.

The Veteran wishes to withdraw his current claims on appeal, including those for increased rating for diabetes and service connection for various conditions secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, acute respiratory disease, asthma, and bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her current bronchitis and asthma.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders (COPD and emphysema) are not related to his military service, including exposure to asbestos. The Board concluded that these conditions are more likely due to cigarette smoking rather than any in-service event or condition.