COPD decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death was attributed to respiratory failure due to COPD, congestive heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease. The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether his coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II contributed to his cause of death.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the right upper extremity (RUE), and peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the left upper extremity (LUE). The Veteran's claims were not based on presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Veteran's respiratory conditions were merged into one disability rating of 100 percent as of June 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a gastrointestinal disorder is reopened, but service connection is denied.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition for VA purposes.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder (COPD) is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no evidence of asbestos exposure.,Service connection for a skin disorder (dermatophytosis of the foot) is denied as there is no link between service and current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, increased rating for spontaneous pneumothorax, and TDIU due to unresolved issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection for COPD which may be related to his active duty service or surgery performed for his service-connected spontaneous pneumothorax.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left hip, right hip, and COPD disabilities. The rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.,An effective date of July 28, 2006, for the grant of service connection for hearing loss with a 10 percent rating is dismissed.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses at Baptist Easley Hospital on February 14, 2016 are denied because the condition was not an emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and lower bilateral sciatic nerve paralysis, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability ratings for service-connected conditions, specifically chronic bronchitis and COPD.

Service connection is granted for PTSD and schizoaffective disorder, but denied for COPD, asthma, and erectile dysfunction. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for erectile dysfunction due to VA treatment is also denied.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma was aggravated during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for COPD is remanded as there are insufficient opinions regarding its relationship to his service-connected bronchial asthma.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and requires a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory condition.

The Board has denied service connection for asbestosis and COPD, both of which were related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos. The esophageal cancer claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder and COPD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be returned to VA for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, tinnitus, COPD, and hypertension. Service connection was denied for atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including COPD, bronchitis, and asthma, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for COPD, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical records and need for additional opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's COPD has been granted an initial compensable rating, but GERD remains rated at 10 percent.