COPD decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or asbestos exposure. The effective date remains unchanged at the moment.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no evidence linking COPD or PTSD to active service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and a respiratory disorder (claimed as lung condition) because the evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and active service.,An initial rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD from November 1, 2014 was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lung disorder due to new evidence showing current diagnoses and opinions linking it to in-service exposure. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, including information about exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, left pulmonary nodule, and hypertension. Service connection for chronic kidney disease and stones is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for COPD is granted. The Veteran's cervical spondylosis is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left Achilles tendinitis, and COPD.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 10, 2015 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and a respiratory disability to include COPD are remanded due to lack of adequate development.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to exposure during Project SHAD.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and service connection were remanded due to procedural issues, lack of updated pulmonary function tests, and the need for further development regarding lung cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for the claims of service connection for COPD and an initial compensable rating for a lung condition. The VA will obtain additional medical records, conduct a new examination with pulmonary function tests, and provide an opinion on whether COPD is related to service or caused by the service-connected lung condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee replacements and respiratory disability (emphysema and COPD) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her active duty service.

The Veteran's lung disabilities, including COPD and pulmonary nodule, are being remanded due to insufficient examination. The gall bladder disability is also being remanded for a VA examination. The bone loss of the jaw and dental disability due to abscess are being remanded as well.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposure to tear gas and his current lung cancer and COPD diagnoses.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating were dismissed due to his death, and the appeal for an extraschedular TDIU prior to September 10, 2013 was also dismissed as it had already been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD stage II and upper respiratory infection and residuals thereof. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, glaucoma, and lung disorder.