COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange and diesel fumes during his military service. The decision grants service connection for COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and residuals of heat stroke due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran is being asked to provide additional records, including from VA and private providers, and a new examination will be scheduled.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and a nerve disorder, including peripheral neuropathy. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of COPD and entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that COPD was not caused by military service or secondary to his service-connected recurrent pneumonia with lung scarring, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of rating a thoracolumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and sinus disorder due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran was exposed to second-hand smoke, exhaust fumes, and paint fumes during his active duty service.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for lung cancer service connection and remanded the COPD with emphysema and history of pulmonary tuberculosis rating issue.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and his DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were denied due to lack of qualifying service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for his right hip disability rating. The claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disability, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, and acid reflux have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected or etiologically related to service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, finding that there is no competent evidence of record establishing an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including costochondritis, degenerative joint disease and disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, COPD, sleep apnea, and gout. The issues are all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records. The issues include prostate disability, COPD, arthritis of various joints, neuropathy of the lower extremities, and SMC.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's COPD and his active duty service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence or undergo another VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected COPD. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to service or caused by his COPD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his emphysematous-type COPD, finding that there was no in-service incurrence or aggravation of an existing disability and thus failing to meet the third requirement for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 50 percent evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea with COPD is denied. The effective date cannot be earlier than August 26, 2018 as it was more than one year after his separation from service.

The claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted. The claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD and service connection for post-excision lipoma. The claim will be reconsidered with a VA medical opinion.