COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of STRs and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchiectasis of the lower left lobe has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating in excess of 60 percent from November 10, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his respiratory conditions and obstructive sleep apnea. The TDIU and SMC claims are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a right great toe fracture and service connection for a respiratory condition, to include COPD. Additional evidence is needed from VA and private sources, including treatment records and Social Security Administration decisions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's COPD is related to his service-connected TB residuals, and whether it is caused by or aggravated by that condition.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status was denied as he is not in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the lack of a VA examination addressing the relationship between his immune, joint, sinus, pulmonary, psychiatric, and hypertension disabilities and active service. The Veteran is also required to provide information about any private healthcare providers who have treated him for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as emphysema, and for the cause of his death. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of COPD, asbestosis, and bronchial asthma due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including kidney condition, GERD, thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus type II, nicotine dependency, hepatitis C and its residuals, peripheral artery disease, opioid dependency, hypertension (also claimed as high blood pressure), chronic back condition as secondary to multiple myeloma, COPD, multiple myeloma, coronary artery disease (CAD), erectile dysfunction, and chronic anemia. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including asthma and COPD, are being evaluated again by a pulmonologist.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder should be remanded due to inadequate compliance with previous remands and incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the November 2019 remand directives and has ordered a new VA examination by a pulmonologist to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed respiratory disorder.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's causes of death, including whether any were caused by his active service or arose during it. Specifically, the examiner must consider the Appellant's assertion that the Veteran suffered from respiratory symptoms during his active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking his death to in-service events or exposures.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran did not have COPD during service and that it is unrelated to any in-service exposure or events.

The Veteran died from a cardiorespiratory condition and was not receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of his death. Therefore, he did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic sinusitis is granted.,Service connection for COPD and heart valve replacement, both claimed as due to asbestos exposure, is remanded.