COPD decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lung cancer, COPD and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The reduction to a 30 percent rating for bronchial asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not proper, and the 100 percent rating is restored from January 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, an initial rating for ischemic heart disease, and TDIU due to unresolved medical opinions and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence and examination, particularly regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease aggravates his COPD and respiratory disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder is reopened, but the case is remanded as an adequate VA examination is required.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including asthma and COPD. The evidence supports that these conditions are etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of September 4, 2009 for a 100% rating for respiratory impairment and service connection. The decision found that the earliest date for which a 100% rating may be awarded is September 4, 2009, based on the first evidence showing findings that entitled to this evaluation.

The Veteran's death was ruled due to COPD. The Board has ordered a VA opinion to determine if the cause of death is related to service, including exposure to jet fumes.

The Veteran's lung condition, including COPD, is being reopened due to new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for a lung condition related to ionizing radiation exposure is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not proximately due to, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by, his service-connected COPD.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, CHF, emphysema, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, and mood disorder (also claimed as borderline intellectual functioning) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or symptoms. The COPD claim is denied due to lack of in-service herbicide exposure.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran’s current COPD to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, Emphysema, Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (claimed as secondary to emphysema and COPD), Acid Reflux, and Erectile Dysfunction due to unresolved issues regarding service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is linked to his peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his respiratory disorders (asbestosis and COPD), all secondary to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for granulomas prior to November 21, 2017 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date forward. The Board found that the Veteran’s current pulmonary functioning is primarily due to his nonservice-connected COPD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of COPD, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for emphysema, COPD, and coronary artery disease have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any exposure during service.,Specifically, the VA examinations did not find a relationship between the Veteran’s current diagnoses and his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and prostate cancer are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his diagnosed conditions and in-service exposures.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a prostate condition is denied.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for an eye disability and a respiratory disorder, to include COPD, are remanded.