COPD decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral vascular disease are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is remanded, as the current evidence does not establish a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to diabetes, which was found to be service-connected based on exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition to include sarcoidosis and COPD, hypertension, and liver disease to include cirrhosis of the liver. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for additional VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and respiratory disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and whether his service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, rating, and retroactive payment issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of COPD was denied, and his appeal regarding special monthly compensation on the basis of aid and attendance has been dismissed due to a prior grant of such benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, rating, and retroactive payment issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for headaches, PTSD, asthma, COPD, sinus disability, and bronchitis. However, it was determined that these conditions are not related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's pulmonary/lung disorders, including whether they are related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a respiratory disability and hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish an in-service injury, disease or relevant event with regard to these conditions, and thus could not grant service connection on any theory of entitlement raised by the Veteran or the record.

The Veteran's service-connected asbestosis with COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and mesothelioma render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD is granted as the Board finds that his current diagnosis of COPD had its onset in service and is directly related to his military service, including exposure to chemical irritants like diesel fumes and pesticides.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD; an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss; an initial compensable disability rating for asbestosis; and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The remand is necessary due to incomplete medical records and the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is reopened, but the case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for COPD, including as due to exposure to herbicides, is remanded. The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for lupus, including as due to exposure to herbicides, is also remanded.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any respiratory disorder, including COPD. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may have caused or aggravated his use of tobacco products, which could have contributed to his development of COPD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, attributing it to a history of asthma during military service. The exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, was not considered as the primary cause.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, COPD, left and right elbow disabilities, left and right shoulder disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of evidence of a current disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for gout has been dismissed. The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, IHD, prostate cancer, type II diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy due to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in the South China Sea.