COPD decisions — 2021

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

The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, foot disability (claimed as blisters or blood poison), respiratory disability (COPD), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac/heart disability, right lower extremity PVD, left lower extremity PVD, right lower extremity DVT, left lower extremity DVT, embolism, cellulitis, right ulnar peripheral neuropathy, and left ulnar peripheral neuropathy have been granted. The claims for service connection for right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, back/spine disability, and left eye disability are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lung disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for an advisory medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, but remanded the issue of hypertension due to herbicide exposure.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for COPD, bilateral knee disability, and prostate cancer. The claim of service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as there is no separate diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as emphysema, COPD, and recurrent pneumonia) are remanded due to insufficient clarification on whether he continues to experience recurrent pneumonia past 2009 and whether his diagnosed conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, right leg and left leg are remanded as the VA examiner did not address the relationship between cold weather exposure and restless leg syndrome.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left eye retinal pigment epithelium mottling, para retinal telangiectasia is remanded due to a lack of Goldmann visual field chart from his September 2009 VA examination and the need for clarification on whether bilateral dermatochalasis and bilateral cataracts are symptoms or separate diagnoses proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left eye condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma, emphysema, COPD, and sleep apnea due to asbestos exposure. The evidence did not show a current diagnosis or etiology of these conditions related to service.,There was no established diagnosis of emphysema in the medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and COPD due to insufficient reasoning in the previous opinions regarding potential service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and his current condition.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for colorectal cancer with colon resection, metastatic liver cancer, lung cancer, COPD, and constrictive bronchiolitis due to potential non-ionizing radiation exposure during military service.

The Veteran's seizure disorder is granted as service-connected, and a rating of 10% for his lung disability before May 20, 2015 is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is more likely due to his service exposure to toxic chemicals and solvents than to his smoking history, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand directives. The Veteran's COPD is being reviewed again for potential service connection, specifically related to asbestos exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issues. The Board also noted that new VA examinations are needed for some of the disabilities on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. However, it denied service connection for bilateral leg lymphedema due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, avascular necrosis of the left hip, and avascular necrosis of the right hip as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The VA examiners found no causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability, to include COPD, as there is no evidence of asbestos exposure or asbestosis. The Veteran's current COPD is not related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's cataracts were denied as the evidence did not show that they began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The chloracne was granted as it became manifest within one year of his separation from service and is presumed due to herbicide exposure.,Asbestosis and COPD were both denied as there was no evidence showing that the conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service or exposure to burn pits.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD and bronchitis, and his active service or exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's COPD and its relationship to service, Agent Orange exposure, or smoking. The case will be returned for further development.