COPD decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no causal relationship between his military service and his current diagnosis of COPD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory condition should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's right pleural plaques are rated at 100 percent under the primary service-connected condition of COPD, and a separate rating for right pleural plaques is not warranted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability (COPD, emphysema, ground glass nodules) due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and COPD, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his active duty service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for COPD.

The Board denied service connection for COPD with emphysema, finding that the Veteran's current respiratory disability did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and was not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including chronic bronchitis and COPD, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or a direct relationship to service. The current diagnosis of restrictive lung disease is not related to service either.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory, skin, and esophageal disabilities, finding that these conditions are not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other in-service injury, event, or disease.

The appeal for COPD, due to herbicide exposure, is dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's service records show exposure to herbicides, and he is diagnosed with arthritis, COPD, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of the current 10 percent for service-connected COPD, citing that the Veteran's FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC ratio did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6604.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and eye disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA examinations in September 2015 were inadequate, and additional records are needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to burn pits, asbestos, or jet engine exhaust during his military service.

Right and left hip osteoarthritis are granted as service-connected.,Avascular necrosis of the right and left hips is denied as not related to service.

The Board dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, liver disorder, and psychiatric disorders. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral shin splints was denied.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a respiratory disability and hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service and the relationship between his current respiratory disability and military service.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death due to the Veteran's service-connected amputated right middle finger, as well as other conditions that did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The Board found no evidence linking any of these conditions to service.