COPD decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including VA treatment records. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, COPD, and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD. The current opinions do not adequately address the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s claimed conditions.

The appeal for service connection of COPD was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected PTSD contributed to or hastened his death. The appellant needs to provide additional medical literature or nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for spontaneous pneumothorax residuals is remanded. The issue of service connection for COPD as due to aggravation by the service-connected pneumothorax condition remains pending and must be addressed before a final decision can be made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory problems, including asthma and COPD. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of various joints, COPD, constipation (secondary to arthritis), neuropathy of the lower extremities (secondary to arthritis), and prostate disability are remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, bilateral tinnitus, excessive weight gain and obesity, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, left index finger condition (not diagnosed), neck pain, lower back pain, COPD, dizziness, and chronic UTI and incontinence have been granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking his conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD as it is not etiologically related to the Veteran's active service and was not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective August 19, 2010. The claim for COPD remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for traumatic brain injury, respiratory disability (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Parkinsonism, and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The VA is directed to obtain relevant records from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and any other private records identified by the Veteran.

The Veteran's cause of death was pneumonia due to COPD, with congestive heart failure as a contributing factor. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death and could not establish presumptive service connection for the causes of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to address his service connection claims, including obtaining corroborated in-service stressors and medical records from private physicians. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis, COPD and chronic bronchitis, and whether the separate evaluation for GERD was correctly terminated effective July 1, 2013, and combined with the evaluation of duodenal ulcer. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's COPD and sleep apnea should be remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and the claims for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TBI are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flatfeet, left ear hearing loss, COPD, and tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, and CHF are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma and a respiratory disorder other than asthma (including COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis) due to exposure to chemicals and/or jet fuel. The Veteran's military occupational specialty was fuel specialist, which may have exposed him to these substances.