COPD decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bronchitis and COPD are not etiologically related to service, thus denying his claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected bronchitis/COPD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an updated examination to assess the severity of his depressive disorder with anxiety and asthma/COPD. His TDIU claim prior to July 2009 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are on appeal.

The Veteran underwent two lung surgeries in September 2001 at a VA facility, but these surgeries did not result in additional lung disability.,VA medical records indicate that the surgeries were performed due to a left lower lobe lung nodule. The surgery revealed subcutaneous emphysema and COPD.

The Veteran's interstitial lung disease is service connected, but his asbestosis and COPD are not. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current respiratory disabilities other than interstitial lung disease.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the upper radicular group of the left upper extremity has been granted a noncompensable rating effective August 26, 2010. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for this condition.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the superficial peroneal nerve of the left upper extremity was granted a noncompensable rating effective August 26, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma with COPD prior to November 12, 2015 has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are rated at a noncompensable level, but the Board found that his symptoms warrant an increased rating to 30 percent effective from August 10, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for CAD are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung cancer and COPD were caused by his service-connected PTSD, which led to his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which were presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's death was caused by multisystem organ failure, acute myelogenous leukemia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Board finds that the conditions leading to his death are not related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anterior communicating aneurysm and COPD. The examiner will need to determine if there are any neurologic symptoms associated with the aneurysm and whether COPD is causally related to service due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for jungle rot of the bilateral feet was withdrawn by the Veteran.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for tinea cruris of the groin, which is now granted. The condition had its onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his COPD, including exposure during service.

The Veteran's lung disability, currently diagnosed as COPD, did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to active service, including exposure to herbicides.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's COPD is more likely due to his long-term smoking history than to his in-service herbicide exposure, and thus denied service connection for COPD as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is aggravated by his service-connected interstitial lung disease, and thus grants service connection for COPD. The claim seeking an increased initial rating for interstitial lung disease will be remanded to allow for readjudication in light of this decision.