COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to or as a consequence of COPD, which is considered presumptive based on exposure to mustard gas during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia, neutropenic fever, and tumor lysis syndrome. The claim was also denied for COPD and CAD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, respiratory disability (asthma and COPD), back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, headache disability, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, and voiding dysfunction are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiovascular collapse, bilateral pneumonia, and severe COPD. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband’s death, alleging exposure to asbestos while serving aboard the USS Kawishiwi, treatment for rheumatic fever in service, and development of a psychiatric disorder that contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of discussion regarding potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD, is related to active service.

The Board has found that additional and relevant medical evidence was received into the record since the December 2018 Statements of the Case. As a result, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if lung conditions and liver cancer are related to service, including herbicide exposure. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining new medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left leg disorder, right leg disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The Veteran did not have any diagnosed conditions related to these issues during or after his military service.,Service connection was also denied for COPD. The Veteran claimed exposure to diesel exhaust fumes and asbestos, but the Board found no evidence of such exposures in the record.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD, but the case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for COPD.

The appeal for service connection of multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim.,Service connection for COPD was not established, as there is no current diagnosis of COPD in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory and sinus or allergy disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU under VA regulations. However, his claim is being remanded and referred to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to subjective factors that may permit a 100% rating based on his particular circumstances.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and requests for further development, including determining if the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service and requesting a VA medical opinion on whether his COPD is related to in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's death was caused by peripheral artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension. The VA did not find fault in the care provided.,VA denied claims for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and § 1318 due to lack of evidence showing negligence or unforeseeable events.