COPD decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, COPD, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current COPD and pleural disease with pleural airthickening and plaques are related to his in-service asbestos exposure, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, increased rating for right knee disability, and increased rating for COPD have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in writing.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and exposure history.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed respiratory condition, including COPD.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not have any pending claims for benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, DIC, death pension, and accrued benefits were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition and a pulmonary condition including COPD, claiming as chronic cough. The Veteran's left knee arthritis was not shown to be chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period, did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology.,The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary condition including COPD, claiming as chronic cough. The Veteran's current pulmonary condition was diagnosed many years after service and is less likely related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disability aggravated his COPD.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death, and whether any of these conditions were related to his active service.

The Veteran's prostate condition, ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes mellitus, COPD, and bilateral eye condition are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of a VA examination and consideration of his in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequacies in previous VA examination opinions and inconsistencies with other evidence of record.

The appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's initial rating for COPD with residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is denied as his FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC measurements were not less than 40% predicted value, he did not suffer more than one asthma attack per week or require daily use of systemic high dose corticosteroids. The Veteran's scars are rated noncompensable due to their small size and lack of instability or pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's COPD had its clinical onset during active service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury, including because of his alleged occupational exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for COPD. The appeal as to the lung disorder, including COPD and emphysema, is remanded due to lack of complete service treatment records from reserve service and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded for further examination regarding service connection for COPD and sleep apnea. The issues of service connection for COPD and sleep apnea are also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 3, 2008 for his award of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as he did not meet the threshold minimum schedular percentage standards under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) for a TDIU prior to that date.