COPD decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to inadequate examination and failure to address aggravation. The case is returned for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including inpatient records from Baumholder Army Health Clinic and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a lung disability and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, both claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for various conditions, including tendonitis and COPD, due to herbicide exposure. The VA will need to obtain a supplemental medical opinion to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's presumed exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, PTSD, SFW left groin, thigh, penis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, resulted in functional impairment that precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period from December 19, 2011 to June 5, 2016. A TDIU rating was granted during this period.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as COPD and other conditions were ruled out. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s heart disability to his service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied due to lack of in-service evidence. The claim has been reopened, and the new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Service connection is granted for PTSD but denied for spinal demyelination and CIDP.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as coronary artery disease, due to hypertension and COPD. The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD and cause of death due to COPD. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of COPD and the cause of death.

The Veteran's death was attributed to COPD and heart failure. The appellant contends the cause of death qualifies for presumptive service connection based on the Veteran’s service in Vietnam aboard naval vessels, or due to asbestos exposure during his 18-year naval career. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's presence within the territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of COPD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, while her claims for right ankle disability, neuro rhinitis, sinusitis, and COPD are denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability. None of the conditions noted on his death certificate as contributing to his death were service connected, and no evidence links these conditions with service.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that the medications used to treat his service-connected disabilities caused his death.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, COPD with pulmonary hypertension, and other disabilities, resulted in significant need for regular aid and attendance. However, the criteria for SMC in excess of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) were not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, right leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability (COPD), finding no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to link them to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded all other issues due to lack of evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence. The claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, eye disability (blurred vision), bilateral hearing loss disability, respiratory disability (COPD, lung condition with patch), sleep apnea, prostate disability, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal as the Appellant withdrew her appeals prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was at least an even balance of evidence supporting a link between his asbestos exposure during service and his current COPD. The appeal regarding asbestosis was withdrawn by the Veteran.