COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. The claim for bladder cancer is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The claim for skin cancer remains pending, with the need for an addendum opinion to address whether it is related to in-service exposure or sunburns/sun exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded. An addendum opinion is needed regarding whether his diagnoses are related to fear of hostile military activity or a verified stressor.,The claim for service connection for COPD remains pending, with the need for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is related to presumed exposure to jet fuel in service.,The cause of death claim has been remanded. The Board will consider the relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his respiratory disorder (COPD) as well as any other factors that may have contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence of a disability of service origin that caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his in-service noise exposure. However, it denied service connection for a respiratory condition, concluding that there is no link between the Veteran's current COPD and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for extreme joint pain, COPD, rectal impact surgery, skin disorder (including malignant melanomas), and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for Parkinson's Disease is also remanded as it requires an addendum opinion from the March 2013 VA examiner.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for COPD, high blood pressure, and headaches in November 2019. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including skin disability (claimed as jungle rot), back disability, COPD, left and right ankle disabilities, frostbite disability, heart disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA is directed to obtain relevant medical records and provide the Veteran with notice regarding PTSD claims based on personal assault.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, frostbite residuals, and tinnitus as these conditions have been fully granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for COPD with chronic bronchitis and recurrent pneumonia, as well as TDIU based on these conditions, are being remanded due to inadequate prior examinations. The Board requests additional examination to address the severity of his respiratory disability and its impact on work capacity.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to incomplete information in the VA examination reports, particularly regarding the Veteran's pulmonary hypertension.

The Veteran's right lung disability, post-lobectomy, is rated at 30 percent since June 6, 2016. The condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating as it does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his COPD, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and arthritis. The Board also notes that the Veteran has not been provided with a VA examination for sinusitis.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a respiratory disability (COPD). Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence, and it is now granted.,Service connection for COPD was denied as there are no records indicating its occurrence during active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issues of service connection for tonsillar cancer, coronary artery disease, an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, and a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for COPD and urinary stress incontinence, which were secondary to other conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and denied service connection for type 2 diabetes, COPD, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The acquired psychiatric disability is linked to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA opinion regarding the Veteran's cervical spine fracture and its potential contribution to his cause of death.

The Board has granted new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The claim for service connection for prostate condition is denied.