COPD decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, emphysema, and asbestosis. The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a memory disorder, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The Board concluded that there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was found to be end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which the Board determined was not related to service or a service-connected disability. The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, asthma, chronic rhinitis, and pharyngitis, finding that there is no evidence in the STRs supporting these conditions during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in previous decisions and a need for further investigation regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service. The VA will investigate whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed in Panama, and obtain a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for atrial fibrillation as secondary to the service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The lung disorder (including COPD and asbestosis) is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to a lack of VA treatment records from the 1960s and 1970s. The Veteran testified that he received treatment for these conditions at various locations including Meadville VA, Franklin Hospital, and privately.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including colon cancer, degenerative joint diseases of multiple body parts, and a respiratory disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding potential asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and reconsideration of service connection claims, including a gynecological disorder (cervical dysplasia), an upper respiratory condition (COPD), a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder, NOS), and a liver disorder (hepatitis C).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic lung condition during service and that any condition having a nexus in service would have manifested well before separation. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his in-service treatment or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic or continuous respiratory disability since service separation and concluding that any current respiratory disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a respiratory condition, including COPD and asthma, is denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for major depressive disorder, respiratory disorder (including COPD), and left hand disability has been granted. The claims are granted to the extent that they relate to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for COPD as the evidence did not support a finding that it was incurred during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, including asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of asbestosis or establish a link between in-service asbestos exposure and current COPD and emphysema.

The Veteran's hypertension and COPD with shortness of breath are not service connected as they did not begin during active duty or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Gulf War presumption of service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 does not apply.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that it was not incurred during service and is unrelated to any service-connected disability.

The claim to reopen service connection for bipolar disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for ulcer, chronic bronchitis, COPD, sinusitis, OSA, and GERD are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the cervical spine. The claims for PTSD and COPD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's asbestosis and his service. The VA respiratory examination is required to reconcile these opinions.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between any service-connected disability and the Veteran's death.