COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA medical opinion to clarify the Veteran's current respiratory diagnoses and determine if any pre-existing sinusitis, hay fever, or asthma were aggravated during service. The issues of TDIU prior to June 15, 2011 and SMP based on need for regular aid and attendance are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the respiratory condition claim.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left pleural effusion, finding that there is equipoise evidence supporting this claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's COPD and his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to glioblastoma, finding that it was not related to service and no other service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with respect to the July 2015 rating decision denying service connection for COPD and bronchiectasis, thus the appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's COPD and in-service asbestos exposure, Cadmium inhalation or other welding-fume exposure. The VA examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the Veteran had an asbestos-related disease that was related to service and substantially contributed to his death.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the timeliness of the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement (NOD) and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether COPD is related to service, including exposure to fires in combat and burning feces, or secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's smoking history is also a factor that needs clarification.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his COPD and determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as whether any such disorders are related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for COPD from October 7, 1996 to October 24, 2007. Prior to this date, the Veteran's COPD was rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, COPD, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, arthritis of the knees, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to additional development needs.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and remanded the claim for respiratory disorder (COPD). The Veteran's current lumbosacral arthritis is not considered to be related to his military service, as there was no evidence of such in-service. For COPD, the Board found that an addendum opinion is needed due to conflicting medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and respiratory disability (including COPD) due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing appropriate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, but he was granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 17, 2008 to February 4, 2019.

The Veteran's cause of death (coronary artery disease, diabetes, and COPD) is not service-connected. The case is remanded to determine the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, bilateral upper and lower extremity polyneuropathy, vasculitis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoporosis as the evidence did not show these conditions were related to or caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service or toxic herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded several other issues for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection. Service connection for type two diabetes mellitus, heart condition, prostate cancer, and right knee disability is denied.