COPD decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee, foot, hand disabilities and COPD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is conceded.

The claim for service connection for cause of death is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's esophageal cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine, bilateral ankles, bilateral feet, COPD, a cardiovascular disorder, and PTSD due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for vision problems, fatigue, COPD, degenerative disc disease, headaches, and neurobehavioral effects including trouble relaxing and short tempered have been dismissed. The appeal for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder and remanded other issues including service connection for bleeding ulcers, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, including emphysema and COPD, residuals of smoke inhalation, as the evidence did not show that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to hazardous chemicals, asbestos, or herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, CAD, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need to associate missing records with the file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of whether his conditions are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical evidence. The claims of service connection for sinus problems, COPD, fibromyalgia (including as secondary to PTSD), and an earlier effective date for a 60 percent evaluation for tinea versicolor are being returned to the RO.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's COPD and its relationship to his service-connected spontaneous pneumothorax.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and inconsistencies in the Veteran's medical records. The Veteran is not considered credible regarding his exposure to tear gas during service, and a new VA respiratory examination is needed to assess whether his COPD began in service or is otherwise related to his period of service.

The Board has found that further development is necessary to determine the nature and extent of the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service, as well as his exposures to other chemicals/solvents. The COPD claim will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cardiac disability and cause of death are related to his service. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The claim is denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran had ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease, which are not shown prior to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of a rating in excess of 30 percent for COPD and entitlement to TDIU due to additional development being needed. The Veteran's COPD is expected to be evaluated again, and his claim for TDIU will also be considered.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. It also denied increased ratings for COPD, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and residuals of a thoracic spine fracture.

The Veteran's lung cancer, including lung cancer with COPD, is service-connected for accrued benefits purposes. The cause of the Veteran's death was metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, which is also service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase rating on his right ankle fracture with degenerative changes was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, and respiratory disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining National Guard service treatment and personnel records, verifying duty status, and determining if the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during his National Guard service. If exposure is confirmed, a VA clinician will be asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the cause of death (cardiac exhaustion due to complications of COPD, asbestosis, and coronary artery disease) was caused by exposure to asbestos.