COPD decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's COPD, as his previous evaluation was from August 2016 and he reported worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD. The case will be reviewed again with a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Parkinson's Disease, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, COPD, heart condition, back injury, and bipolar disorder. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, SSA records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability, specifically whether it is related to service exposure or not.

The Board has decided that service connection for asthma is granted. Service connection for COPD is remanded due to insufficient reasoning in the July 2008 private medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition due to asbestos exposure, finding that there is no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and concluding that his current lung conditions are more likely caused by smoking tobacco.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sciatica, and respiratory disabilities (COPD and emphysema), as well as a ruptured spleen. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, enlarged heart, and hypertension as they are not related to the Veteran's active duty service or his service-connected folliculitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability prior to September 12, 2014 was denied as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevented all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for COPD and hypertension due to lack of a VA opinion on their etiology, as well as outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, but denied service connection for skin cancer and PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claims for COPD and a right shoulder disability. The hypertension claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error.,Service connection for COPD, lung fungus, was denied as there was insufficient evidence of a nexus between current diagnosis and in-service pneumonia.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of cirrhosis of the liver, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision. The right wrist and elbow neurological disabilities, and COPD are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and asbestos related lung disease are related to his in-service exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for asthma. The issues of service connection for COPD and asthma have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether COPD is secondary to service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions and consideration of relevant articles.

The VA denied the claim for service connection for COPD as there was no evidence linking the condition to service, including asbestos exposure. The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is more likely due to his long-term tobacco use post-service.

The Veteran's death was attributed to COPD and Congestive Heart Failure, with PTSD being suggested as a contributing factor. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran had PTSD due to service and whether it contributed to his death.