COPD decisions — 2019

All issues related to service connection are remanded. The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor disorder is rated 70% throughout the appeal period, but COPD, hernia, and aortic aneurysm claims remain unresolved.,The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the remaining service connection issues.

The Veteran's death was due to a non-service-connected condition (COPD). The appellant is entitled to reimbursement of the burial expenses as her personal funds were used for the plot.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD, including as the result of exposure to asbestos, was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the unavailability of the Veteran's service treatment records, which may impact his cause of death and burial benefits claims. The VA must obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the causes of the Veteran’s death and establish whether his heart disability was related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, low back condition, and cold injury residuals due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions as there is no medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for seizures has been reopened, but the Board finds that COPD and tinnitus were not related to his military service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of tinnitus and effective dates for bilateral hearing loss have also been remanded.,Service connection was denied for COPD and sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the appellant's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and therefore remands the case for clarification of the date of the Statement of the Case (SOC) in question.

The Veteran's COPD is related to in-service exposures and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder or mental health condition in service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have any claims pending at the time of his death regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for high blood pressure, acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder), tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus due to inextricably intertwined issues.

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

The Board has found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied service connection for a respiratory condition. The low back disability claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gout, calcaneal foot spurs, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was not granted because the Board found no credible evidence that any of these conditions began during or were otherwise related to the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's COPD case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability (CAD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,Chronic sinusitis has been characterized by chronic congestion with tenderness over the frontal sinus and occasional sinus headaches. The Veteran had no incapacitating or non-incapacitating episodes in the past 12 months.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD, due to asbestos exposure, has been dismissed because the appellant died before a decision could be made.

Service connection for COPD is granted. A compensable rating for right pleural plaques claimed as asbestosis is remanded.

Service connection for COPD is granted on the basis of aggravation, but not otherwise. Service connection for Sarcoidosis is granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion.