COPD decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure, heart condition, right eye condition, and emphysema (COPD) as the preponderance of evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or any related conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of the effective date for a 60 percent rating for his service-connected respiratory disability, to include asthma, COPD, pulmonary emphysema, and bronchitis, is remanded due to procedural issues. The AOJ must consider all applicable diagnostic codes in its analysis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart condition and COPD due to outstanding VA treatment records from before June 1992.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except PTSD was dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran had been diagnosed with PTSD and supported by medical and lay evidence, thus granting service connection for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to an inadequate July 2017 VA medical opinion and issues raised by the record under 38 C.F.R. § 3.312(c)(3).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether COPD is related to service, specifically in-service exposure. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, asbestosis, and pneumoconiosis, is granted service connection. Placement of an implantable cardiac pacemaker is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to active duty service. Ionizing radiation exposure is not considered a qualifying condition for VA benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The cervical spine disability issue remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues are a skin disorder, including dermatitis and eczema, and residuals of a right ankle strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinions provided, and because VA failed to obtain relevant chest imaging studies.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service. The issues include splenomegaly, respiratory condition (including COPD and sarcoidosis), heart condition, diabetes mellitus, and small bladder blockage.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition to include COPD was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, is granted based on VA's concession of in-service stressors. Service connection for liver problems is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was denied, and an effective date prior to March 17, 2017 for service connection of PTSD is also denied.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for COPD is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a heart disorder was granted. Service connection for COPD, right upper extremity numbness and tingling, left upper extremity numbness and tingling, right lower extremity numbness and tingling, and left lower extremity numbness and tingling were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for prolapsed hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bunions, psychiatric disorders, and other disabilities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's COPD and its relationship to service, specifically his presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a 20 percent evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (to include as due to herbicide exposure) and service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (to include as due to asbestos and herbicide exposure) are stayed. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after the stay is lifted.,The Veteran has current right and left knee disorders that may be related to his military service, but a VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for supraventricular arrhythmias is remanded. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after the stay is lifted.,The Veteran has current right and left knee disorders that may be related to his military service, but a VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for supraventricular arrhythmias is remanded. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after the stay is lifted.