COPD decisions — 2018

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to decide.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for left knee instability and separate ratings of 10 percent each for painful flexion and frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The claim for service connection for low back strain is reopened due to the receipt of new and material evidence.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for COPD and hernia. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for respiratory conditions (COPD, asthma) and psychiatric disorders (PTSD, schizophrenia). The Veteran's COPD and asthma are not presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection is being considered under a direct analysis.

The rating for adenocarcinoma was reduced from 100% to noncompensable, effective November 1, 2013. The SMC at the housebound rate was also discontinued as the Veteran no longer meets the criteria due to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension, lung cancer, and COPD as they need further examination by a VA clinician to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and lung damage due to Phosphine gas exposure. Additional development is needed, including verifying if there was a U.S. Army/military history of Phosphine gas testing in the early 1950s and confirming whether the Veteran’s unit submitted soldiers to Phosphine gas testing in the Fall of 1951.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA medical opinion regarding service connection for lung disease, including lung scarring and COPD. The examiner is requested to address whether these conditions are related to active service, particularly exposure to herbicides, creosote, tear gas, and napalm.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, COPD, and esophageal cancer (claimed as laryngeal carcinoma) is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Specifically, the claims for COPD and esophageal cancer are related to Agent Orange exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether COPD is related to service, particularly herbicide exposure. The Veteran's coronary artery disease may also be considered in relation to his COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for respiratory and heart conditions due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and COPD are all granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and the likely etiology of his congestive heart failure, particularly in relation to presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is found to be the principal cause of his death due to cardiopulmonary arrest and pneumonia.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is not rated higher than 20 percent.,The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease, and atrial fibrillation due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a disability rating for residuals of shell fragment wound, muscle weakness and atrophy, limited motion of right shoulder is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for COPD and hypertension due to herbicide exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims related to valvular heart disease with sinus tachycardia, hypertension, COPD, and myocardial infarction as the appellant requested withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to his active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma and COPD, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to outstanding VA treatment records and further medical examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. Service connection is also granted for back, right ankle, eye, sinus, and COPD disabilities. However, rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of colon cancer remains remanded.