COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, heart disabilities, and pulmonary hypertension due to service-connected asbestosis. The Veteran's COPD is now considered secondary to his service-connected asbestosis. Additional development is needed including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion on whether COPD was caused or aggravated by asbestosis.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence of direct service connection or exposure to herbicides that would support a presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, COPD, and a heart disorder were denied in July 2009. The appellant did not have a pending claim at the time of her husband's death, so accrued benefits are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence, including internet articles submitted by the Appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's COPD with asthma, finding that it was aggravated by his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including asthma and COPD, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found that the current diagnoses are more likely related to post-service factors such as smoking and substance abuse.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death due to bladder cancer and COPD, finding that the Veteran's COPD was not related to in-service asbestos exposure or other welding fume exposure. The decision also noted that the Veteran died from chronic renal failure caused by bladder cancer.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current COPD and in-service asbestos exposure or any other service-connected condition. The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's COPD is more likely due to his long history of smoking.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's respiratory disorders and his in-service duties. The Veteran needs a VA examination to provide an opinion on whether his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The examiner is required to provide an addendum opinion regarding whether OSA had its onset during active duty, or is otherwise related to his service, including exposure to chemicals, fuels, sandstorms, and other environmental contaminants.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, heart disorder, respiratory disorder (likely COPD), diabetes mellitus, type II, and lower extremity disabilities. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), a low back disability, and a lung disability are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's lung condition is related to service, specifically his exposure to asbestos during military service. However, a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that there was no evidence of asbestos exposure or radiation exposure during service and concluding that any current respiratory disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The Board did not find any errors in the decisions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, and asthma/COPD as the evidence did not show chronic symptoms in service or continuity of symptomatology since separation. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's right eye detached retina is granted a 20% rating, effective August 21, 2015. The claim for service connection of the left hip disability and COPD has been reopened.

Service connection for hypertension is granted. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, left hip, and left ankle disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder rating is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for OSA and COPD, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.,Specifically, the Board determined that there was no evidence linking the current sleep apnea and COPD to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not shown to have current diagnoses of these conditions during or in proximity to the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and sinusitis is remanded as no SOC has been issued addressing these issues.