COPD decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to diabetes and ischemic heart disease, as these conditions were not shown to be related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for COPD, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis. The claims are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's pulmonary disorders, including COPD, hypoxemic respiratory failure, emphysema, pleural calcified plaque and pleural nodules are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship to service. The exposure basis is presumed asbestos exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorders, specifically emphysema and COPD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an upper respiratory disorder, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as COPD. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's death was due to his service-connected PTSD, which caused cirrhosis of the liver. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were not met.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to service, specifically his upper respiratory infections during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder also claimed as memory loss was granted. Other claims were remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, asthma, and COPD due to lack of a causal link between the current disability and active military service. The Veteran's hammertoe disabilities were also denied as there was no evidence of claw foot or hammertoe across all toes on either foot.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for COPD, hypertension, and bladder cancer due to exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection remain remanded.

The Board denied service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine with demyelinating sensory polyneuropathy as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected left ankle disability.,The Board denied service connection for COPD, concluding that there is no evidence showing its onset during service and finding that it is more likely related to tobacco abuse rather than an in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for pleural plaques due to asbestos exposure, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and emphysema, finding that the Veteran's current lung condition is causally related to his exposure to respiratory irritants during service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and emphysema as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, COPD, unspecified edema, and a bladder disorder due to insufficient evidence. The psychiatric claim is also remanded as it involves PTSD and depression.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cause of death should be considered for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, but additional records are needed from his service personnel file and VA medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lung disability is related to service, including exposure to asbestos or other chemicals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, and a disorder characterized by spondylosis are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.