COPD decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, or a pulmonary disorder. The evidence is insufficient to establish these conditions as being related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, a lung disorder. The remaining issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Board found no evidence of bladder cancer, cancer of the right ear, or COPD, emphysema, and asthma being incurred in service. The Appellant's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD, is being evaluated again to determine its onset during service or its relation to service exposure.

The Veteran reported that he was not appealing his service connection claim for COPD, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current COPD is not related to his service, specifically due to his long history of smoking.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's causes of death are related to his active service, including exposure to oil well fires. The appeal is currently in a pending status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of diabetes, heart disability, or respiratory disabilities. The claim for throat cancer is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including asbestosis and COPD, to his period of active service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current COPD is related to service, including in-service asbestos exposure or cigarette smoking.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current pulmonary disabilities are related to his service. The case is therefore being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, including as due to asbestos exposure and jet fumes during service, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 6, 2014. The Veteran withdrew his appeal and was satisfied with the current 50 percent rating assigned since May 6, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and requesting a VA examination to address whether COPD is related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure due to COPD, which is etiologically related to his in-service chronic respiratory disorders. The Board finds that the appellant is entitled to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and therefore DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1310 are granted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and status post total left knee replacement were denied due to lack of a nexus between service and current disability. The claim for IHD was not addressed as it is not part of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on secondary to herbicide exposure has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues related to the reduction in disability rating from 30% to noncompensable for asbestosis with COPD. The Veteran was not provided proper consideration of the relevant regulations governing rating reductions.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis and COPD do not warrant a compensable rating, and his TDIU claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for individual unemployability.

The Veteran's COPD/emphysema with a history of right spontaneous hemopneumothorax, status post right lobe lobectomy has been rated at 30 percent since the entire appeal period. The Board found that his FEV-1/FVC ratio was between 56 to 70 percent of the predicted value.