COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has granted accrued benefits in the amount of $958.00 for expenses related to the widow's last sickness and burial, as determined by the Appellant and his wife.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including back condition, COPD, artery bypass, prostate cancer, and leukemia. The appeal for TDIU was also dismissed. Service connection for lymphoma due to exposure at Camp Lejeune is granted, as is service connection for the cause of death.

The reduction in rating for service-connected residuals of lung cancer from 60 percent to zero percent, effective from February 1, 2016, was improper. The Veteran's disability has been characterized by FEV-1 scores of 40 to 55 percent predicted or FEV-1/FVC scores of 40 to 55 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including emphysema and COPD, finding that his conditions are not related to service or exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and TDIU, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, and hypertension have been denied as these conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board found that his lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and respiratory failure were not related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for COPD and renal cancer due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents, asbestos, or other in-service events. The Veteran's service on USS Hancock is also under review.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disability, and hypertension as not related to military service or exposure to herbicide agents at Camp Lejeune.,The cause of death claim was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's fatal conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death. The Board also found that asbestos exposure did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis, COPD, and asthma. The case is remanded to obtain an examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his current respiratory conditions.

The Board has vacated its decision denying service connection for respiratory, bladder, and stomach disabilities. The claim of service connection for a stomach disability to include GERD is granted and remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from SSA.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's discharge from the hospital was due to negligence or carelessness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back disability and respiratory issues, due to potential herbicide exposure while aboard the U.S.S. Wichita during his Vietnam War service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a respiratory disability, including COPD and asbestosis, is granted due to the evidence showing in-service asbestos exposure and current respiratory disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacy of the VA examination, specifically regarding the diagnosis of bronchiectasis and exposure in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his active service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses of hearing loss and tinnitus that had their onset during active service.,Service connection for COPD is remanded due to lack of verification of asbestos exposure, and a VA examination is necessary to determine if any currently diagnosed respiratory disability is related to service or asbestos exposure.,Service connection for a heart disability, to include coronary artery disease, is remanded. A VA examination is necessary to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it was caused by herbicide agent exposure during service.,The initial compensable disability rating for Dupuytren's contracture of the right little finger is remanded due to lack of verification of asbestos exposure, and a VA examination is necessary to determine if any currently diagnosed respiratory disability is related to service or asbestos exposure.,The initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for Dupuytren's contracture of the right index finger is remanded. A VA examination is necessary to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it was caused by herbicide agent exposure during service.