COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including service connection for various conditions and exposure basis determinations. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed to determine if new evidence supports reopening of the claims.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions and missing treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome were denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was reopened, but service connection is still not established.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lung conditions, specifically chronic bronchitis and asthma. The Veteran is presumed to have been sound at service enlistment for asthma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current COPD is related to his service due to asbestos exposure, and thus grants service connection for COPD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active service or asbestos exposure. The preponderance of the evidence supported the conclusion that COPD is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service connection claim for emphysema is being reviewed again with new evidence and a thorough examination.

The Veteran's lung disability, including COPD, is granted as service-connected. The Board also finds that the left side residual surgical scars are secondary to his service-connected COPD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was granted. Claims for asthma, CFS, bronchitis, TBI, sleep apnea, COPD, and heart disorder were dismissed.

The Veteran's COPD was granted service connection based on in-service exposure to burn pits and other chemicals as an aircraft mechanic, with the Board finding that these exposures contributed to his development of COPD.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for asthma, entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for asbestosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and entitlement to TDIU prior to October 28, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a groin injury is denied, and his applications to reopen claims of service connection for COPD and lumbar spine disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records, and requests that additional attempts be made to obtain these records. The Veteran's lung disorder claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for fibromyalgia, asthma, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and dizziness have been granted as qualifying chronic disabilities due to undiagnosed illness. The Board found current clinical diagnoses of these conditions were not established.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability), DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II), and lumbar spine disability are not granted.,Service connection for leukemia is remanded.,Service connection for COPD is remanded.,Service connection for AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder (claimed as arthritis of the left shoulder) is remanded.,Service connection for urinary frequency, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII with diabetic ulcer of the right foot or service-connected lumbar spine disability, and service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII or service-connected lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 30 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity; and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability); service connection for DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II); and service connection for lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for CAD associated with hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for lipoma tumor on the spine is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for clarification on pre-service respiratory disability, as well as a need for an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory condition and service exposure.

The Veteran's COPD is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board finds insufficient credible evidence of current tinnitus and thus denies the claim. For COPD, a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding whether it was caused or aggravated by service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Veteran did not provide new and material evidence that would meet the criteria for reopening.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was granted. Evidence submitted since the July 2005 RO denial related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.