COPD decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for COPD, irritable bowel syndrome, cholelithiasis, small intestine disability, and pancreas disability as the evidence did not support a link to military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD and a heart condition need further examination and evaluation. The COPD claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during service, while the heart condition claim requires an additional medical opinion considering the Veteran's service treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, but has remanded the issues of service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, carotid arterial disease, left hand disability, right hand disability, and neuropathy of the lower extremities as due to herbicide exposure. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left true vocal cord paralysis with dysphonia and globus sensation has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his COPD, left and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and his military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by service-connected disabilities, and therefore his cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD and remanded it due to outstanding VA and private medical records. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that his current diagnosis is less likely related to service exposure and more likely due to long-term tobacco use. The appeal was not about a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, fibrous dysplasia of bone, and a disability manifested by shortness of breath are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's cause of death, including cardiac arrest and acute respiratory failure, are related to his active duty service, specifically his exposure to asbestos. The appeal is REMANDED for further review.

The Veteran's COPD is being remanded because the VA examiner did not address whether it was aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer. The case will be reviewed again with a new examination or addendum to determine if COPD was aggravated by the lung cancer.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease has been granted. The appeal for service connection for respiratory disorder (other than upper airway resistance syndrome), to include COPD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% prior to July 19, 2016. The Board has remanded the issues of right lower extremity neuropathy and a pulmonary disability to include COPD claimed as the result of asbestos and chemical exposure for further development. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his current COPD and either his military service or his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's application for S-DVI was denied due to his service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected conditions. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records, ensure compliance with VA underwriting requirements, and reassess the numerical rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability to include asthma and COPD, as well as his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any respiratory disabilities, including whether they are service-connected or aggravated by pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, bilateral interstitial fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis and biapical pleural parenchymal thickening due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has dismissed the claims for COPD and prostate cancer, and has remanded the claim of asbestosis due to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying potential exposure to asbestos. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.