COPD decisions — 2018

The Veteran's obstructive lung disease, including COPD and bronchitis, is not service-connected as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected restrictive lung disease.,Prior to June 6, 2016, the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent. Beginning June 6, 2016, the rating for bilateral hearing loss has been increased to 30 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol as it is not a disability recognized by VA. The remaining issues on appeal are being remanded due to the Veteran's assertion of increased severity since his last examination.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 24, 2011 for the Veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, emphysema/COPD, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The issues related to an increased rating for emphysema/COPD are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to support these claims. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between in-service carbon tetrachloride exposure and the Veteran's COPD and leukemia.

The Veteran's service-connected vertigo is granted, with the Board finding that his current diagnosis of chronic vertigo is related to exposure to contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune during service.,Service connection for a respiratory disability (to include asthma and COPD), heart disability, hypertension, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing these claims.

The Board denied service connection for COPD as the evidence did not support a finding that it was incurred in or caused by service, including exposure to Agent Orange or paint remover.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted, and his peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are rated at 20 percent each. His peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (sciatic nerve) are rated at 40 percent each since June 18, 2013, and his peripheral neuropathy of the anterior femoral nerves are rated at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including COPD and asthma, may have been aggravated during his active duty training in August 2011. However, due to insufficient evidence from a VA examiner regarding this claim, the case is being sent back for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal of vision problems and COPD was dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for COPD due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing (pulmonary) disability, including asthma and COPD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

This appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability by VA standards.,The claims for emphysema with COPD and residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and PTSD are all remanded as the Veteran's symptoms have worsened since his last examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, needs further evaluation by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence of any service-related conditions that contributed to his cause of death. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a nexus between the Veteran’s hypertension, dilated cardiomyopathy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, but the issues of service connection for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding their relationship with asbestosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) and its treatment caused or aggravated the Veteran's end-stage renal disease, which contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the inextricability of his acquired psychiatric disorder with other conditions. The VA will need to determine if these secondary conditions are related to his service-connected condition or another diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's COPD with emphysema is being remanded for further evaluation, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA pulmonary examination to determine if it arose during service or is related to service exposure.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for COPD and chronic bronchitis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's pulmonary disabilities are believed to be related to her smoking history, which is not directly linked to service.