COPD decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right hand condition and respiratory condition due to incomplete development of evidence, including missing STRs and prison medical records. The Veteran's representative argues that his STRs are located at VA’s Records Management Center in St. Louis, MO.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for COPD, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and requests for additional private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, ocular hypertension, COPD, and diabetes mellitus type II have all been denied as they are not found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including due to herbicide exposure, is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed respiratory conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD due to inadequate examination reports. The claims will be further developed with a VA examination.

The appeal for service connection for a heart condition and colonic polyps is dismissed.,The appeals for service connection for left ear pain, asthma, and COPD are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the condition and military service. Service connection for COPD is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to Agent Orange exposure, and as a result, the claim for death pension benefits is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and a back disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claims for residuals of a collapsed lung have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, a pulmonary disability related to asbestos exposure, and PTSD have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a left shoulder disability (psoriatic arthritis). The Veteran's claim for COPD with asbestosis has been reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a respiratory disorder, hepatitis C, and dental disability have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and need for further examination. The issues include pulmonary disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU.

The Veteran's COPD with acute tracheitis and bronchitis is rated at 30 percent from February 10, 2010 to December 13, 2016. The issue of higher initial disability ratings for the condition since December 14, 2016 is dismissed as the Veteran's representative limited the scope of appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or a link to his active duty, including presumed herbicide exposure. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s COPD and OSA were less likely than not due to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma and respiratory conditions including COPD has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU. The appeals for the other conditions are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of pneumonia with left lower lung scar and COPD have been granted a 30 percent disability rating effective August 13, 1996.,An increased disability rating for chronic left Achilles tendonitis is denied. The current rating of 20% remains unchanged.

The Board has reopened the service connection claim for the residuals of a bilateral eye surgery due to new medical evidence. The other issues are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, or any link to service. The Board found that the claimed conditions are not related to service and do not qualify under the presumptive provisions.