COPD decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, COPD, CAD, and hypertension due to outstanding medical records not being obtained.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, finding that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, COPD and emphysema, and lower back degenerative disc disease should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and COPD, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear has been denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has also been denied due to lack of evidence demonstrating a current disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's COPD, including his claimed asbestos exposure. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD was reopened and granted, effective December 17, 2013.,An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,A TDIU is granted.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine disability remains rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted in part. Service connection has been established for left shoulder condition, cervical spine condition (claimed as cervical spondylosis and stenosis), lumbar spinal stenosis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, peripheral vestibular disorder, dizziness, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, headache condition, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and service connection has been reopened for alcoholism and drug abuse. Other claims have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, an initial compensable rating for bilateral ear hearing loss, and an initial compensable rating for residuals of prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the February 2017 decision, including inadequate definition of the scope of the Veteran's claim and failure to address certain aspects such as smoking history and service exposure. The Court also found that the VA opinions were not adequate.

The Veteran's PTSD and sleep apnea are granted service connection. COPD, hypertension, and a headache condition are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and has remanded several other issues related to service connection. The appeal is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for a lung disorder secondary to asbestos exposure and whether the Veteran's lung disorder may have been aggravated by his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and residuals of right upper lobe removal are granted. Service connection is denied for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran.,For COPD, a rating increase to 30 percent has been granted, but only subject to the laws and regulations controlling the award of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's arthritis and COPD are granted as service-connected, with the evidence being in equipoise for both conditions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury associated with a respiratory condition during active duty and concluding that the current diagnosis is more likely due to excessive smoking.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, CAD, feet swelling, hand swelling, and neuropathy were denied. The Board found no causal relationship between these conditions and carbon tetrachloride exposure in service.,The Veteran’s eye disorder claim is remanded due to lack of VA examination records. The duty to assist was triggered by the evidence suggesting a correlation with carbon tetrachloride exposure.,The Veteran's dementia (memory lapses) claim is also remanded for an examination, as it may be related to carbon tetrachloride exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a lung disability to include COPD and emphysema, and transient ischemic attack. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water.