COPD decisions — 2018

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no probative medical evidence linking the COPD to his in-service exposure to asbestos and/or jet fuel.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD, initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 26, 2016 and in excess of a 20 percent thereafter, and service connection for lung cancer. The TDIU issue remains on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of a higher rating for PTSD. The decision on both claims is pending.

The Veteran's current pulmonary disorder, COPD with asthma, was not incurred during active duty service and is not otherwise related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record after a Substantive Appeal was filed. The VA treatment records detailing the Veteran's treatment for her claimed conditions are relevant and must be reviewed.

The Veteran's cause of death is attributed to acute on chronic renal failure due to or as a consequence of hypertension, with other significant conditions contributing to his death including COPD, Marfan syndrome, and gastrointestinal bleed. The Board finds service connection for the cause of death is warranted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchial asthma, COPD, and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence. The exposure basis is presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his acquired psychiatric condition, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, thoracic/lumbar spine disability, shoulder and knee disabilities, pes planus, eye disabilities, migraine headaches, acid reflux, pseudofolliculitis (PFB), hemorrhoids, pulmonary conditions, including COPD, and Meniere’s disease. The Board has remanded these issues for further action.

This case is remanded due to the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, tuberculosis, asthma, bronchiectasis, and pulmonary fibrosis, is related to his active service. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding this claim.

The Veteran's hypertension and cardiomyopathy are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD.,PTSD is granted with a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer, which caused his death, was proximately due to tobacco abuse related to his service-connected PTSD. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The appeal for service connection of COPD has been withdrawn and dismissed. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; bronchitis; gastrointestinal disorder; skin disorder of the inner thighs and under arms; and skin disorder of the feet have been remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's recurrent URTIs, and a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of financial assistance for adaptive equipment, specially adapted housing, and special home adaptation grant. The appeal for service connection for COPD as secondary to lung cancer is also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for COPD, inguinal hernia, skin disability, and bilateral knee disability have been dismissed. The claim for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened but remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to his service, specifically his reported exposure to asbestos. The VA must provide an examination that takes into consideration this exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and lung cancer, with the latter being granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and COPD are denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence that would support these claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disability and multiple myeloma are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining dose assessments related to ionizing radiation exposure.