COPD decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD and dismissed his appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's fatal respiratory disabilities had onset in, or are otherwise related to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the claim of service connection for COPD, as the Veteran's current condition is more likely due to his significant smoking history and post-service exposure to asbestos in a steel mill. The Board found insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos with his current COPD.

The Veteran was granted a higher initial rating of 60 percent for service-connected COPD from December 1, 2015 to January 28, 2019.,An initial rating higher than 60 percent for service-connected COPD beginning on January 29, 2019 was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination and for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to support the presumption of soundness regarding asthma. The Board also found that there was no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lung condition and for an increased rating for headaches due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and a need for an addendum medical opinion on whether his lung cancer is related to service-connected COPD.

Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,Service connection for COPD and Stroke have not been established, with the Veteran's COPD being attributed to his smoking history and service-connected PTSD potentially aggravating his pre-existing erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disability, including asbestosis, COPD and bronchiectasis, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with underlying emphysema due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's condition is more likely due to a long history of smoking and not related to in-service exposures or service-connected asbestosis.

The Veteran's lung condition, including a pulmonary nodule, COPD, and asthma, is being remanded for further development. The appellant will be provided with the VA examiner's curriculum vitae to assist in representing their claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability and its relationship to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic bronchitis. The reduction of the Veteran's rating for duodenal ulcer, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), from 30 percent to 20 percent was upheld.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for COPD as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange) is granted, effective January 9, 2019. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus rating is increased to 40%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition as secondary to his service-connected healed primary pulmonary tuberculosis infection and on a direct basis, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The claims of service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD, are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis as secondary to left knee arthritis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's left knee arthritis was not shown to have manifested within the applicable presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,Service connection for right knee arthritis was also denied as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected left knee arthritis.