COPD decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's COPD may be related to his service in Vietnam, but needs further evidence before a decision can be made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current condition and exposure to asbestos during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, residuals of bladder cancer, and residuals of prostate cancer. The Veteran's current conditions are linked to his in-service exposures.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection based on PTSD or ischemic heart disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and atelectasis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, pulmonary nodule, and post-operative residuals of a gall bladder disability due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and/or Camp Pendleton. The claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was remanded.,Service connection for bone loss of the jaw was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for fatigue, bronchitis, asthma, COPD, a sleep condition (claimed as sleep apnea), high cholesterol, diverticulosis, colon polyps, kidney stones, facial acne, cysts and lumps, and headaches have all been denied.,There is no evidence of any chronic conditions related to service or exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

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

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and his nose injury residuals are unrelated to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's COPD is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s cervical spine (neck) disability is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s lumbar spine (low back) disability is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s rheumatoid arthritis is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of acute febrile illness, and his left lower extremity scarring due to MRSA infection is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s sleep disability (OSA and chronic insomnia) is subsumed under his service-connected PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his in-service exposure to battery fumes and asbestos. The case is now remanded for consideration of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, pulmonary vascular disease, and right upper lung resection due to lung cancer as they are related to service. The claim for sleep apnea remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to service, specifically asbestos exposure. The Veteran was exposed to asbestos during his service aboard an aircraft carrier.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his sleep apnea, chronic bronchitis, asthma, COPD, and allergic bronchospasm was denied. The current assigned rating of 60 percent is deemed insufficient.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that his condition was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and attributing it to his smoking.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure and his death from acute respiratory failure. The appellant is asked to provide any relevant private treatment records, and VA will attempt to obtain them on her behalf.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer and COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected carcinoma of the lung with post-operative right upper lobectomy and COPD is remanded due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, renal failure, COPD, and right lung disability. Service connection was granted for renal failure due to presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for congestive heart failure, COPD, high blood pressure, and pneumonia due to mustard gas exposure was dismissed because the Veteran died before a decision could be made.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and bronchitis on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected pleural plaques. The claim for an increased rating for multifocal, partially calcified pleural plaques was also denied.