COPD decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that COPD or hypertension were related to service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, so the Board dismissed both issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and thoracolumbar or cervical spine disability are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and COPD are remanded.

The Board has granted a January 24, 2011 effective date for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for erectile dysfunction. The case is remanded for further action on service connection for COPD and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's COPD, including whether it is related to service or asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot condition due to new evidence and development. The Veteran's COPD and prostate cancer are denied as not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis, lung disease (claimed as COPD), hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as COPD and including exposure to chemical contaminants. Service connection for IHD is also granted due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to asbestos or herbicides during service and that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a current disability. The decision also noted that the passage of time between discharge from active service and the medical documentation of a claimed disability is a factor that tends to weigh against a claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia, recurrent pneumothoraces, COPD with emphysema, and scarring, fibrosis, or interstitial change on chest X-ray. The Board found no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos or resolved pneumonia.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for COPD as it is insufficiently addressed in the July 2017 VA examination. A new examination is needed that adequately addresses all pertinent evidence, including medical articles submitted by the Veteran and his lay statements.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his COPD and pneumonia are related to service or if his lung cancer contributed to his death.

The Veteran's COPD with pleural lung disease was rated at 60 percent prior to August 1, 2014. Beginning on or after August 1, 2014, the Veteran is now rated at 100 percent for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for respiratory disability, seizure disability, heart disability, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for diabetes mellitus. The appeal as to the reopening of an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is found to be the primary cause of his hypertension. The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Veteran has elected to withdraw his appeals for various service connection claims, including those related to lung disorders, TBI, headaches, eye and teeth disorders, back issues, ankle and foot problems, and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for plantar fasciitis of both feet, a low back disability, conjunctivitis, laryngitis, COPD, headaches, and a dental condition due to new evidence received after the last decision.

The Board has denied service connection for a lung disability, including COPD and asthma. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for syncopic episodes and blackouts.