COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lung disorder, which may be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam and/or asbestos exposure on his ship.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision on COPD is based on asbestos exposure during service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for a current examination.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, bronchitis, and COPD. The Veteran's deviated septum was also denied as not related to active service.,Service connection was granted for COPD but the other conditions were denied.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for certain claims and has remanded other claims due to new evidence or issues.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for COPD has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, as opposed to non-service-connected ones.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's arterial heart defibrillation disorder, right hip disability, left hip disorder, emphysema, and COPD are all denied as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for COPD with emphysema and history of pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as service connection for lung cancer secondary to COPD, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of its onset during active duty or a link to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it was incurred in service. Service connection for cardiovascular disorder, COPD, asbestosis, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and remanded the claims of service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his CAD and diabetes did not contribute to his death. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking his respiratory conditions (COPD, CHF, PVD) to his service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but his COPD and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's asbestosis with obstructive sleep apnea and COPD has been rated at 60 percent, but the Board found that his condition does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disabilities and their relationship to service. The VA will need to obtain medical opinions on whether the Veteran's current respiratory conditions are related to his active service, including exposure to asbestos.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions. The appeal is now focused on verifying if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand, which would allow for a presumption of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung condition, hypertension, and right knee disability. The lung condition was not related to active service or exposure to herbicides/ asbestos. Hypertension was not caused by service-connected diabetes or PTSD. Right knee disability was not incurred in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension and respiratory disability claims need further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected conditions or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The cases are being sent back for additional evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for renal failure and COPD, as well as the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The Veteran's renal failure is being examined to determine if it is related to asbestos exposure during service. His COPD is also being examined to determine if it is related to asbestos exposure and PTSD. These claims are inextricably intertwined with the SMC claim, so all of these issues must be remanded together.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his right foot disorder, bullous emphysema, COPD, and eczema.