COPD decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal issues, respiratory disability (COPD), bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been reopened. However, the Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with an earlier remand, requiring further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's lung disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition and depression have been denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's COPD with asbestos-related pleural disease is currently rated at a 60 percent rating, but no higher, effective November 30, 2010. The appeal for TDIU remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's PTSD claim has been reopened and granted, as well as his COPD claim. The right shoulder disability claim is pending due to the need for additional development.,Service connection was established for PTSD and COPD.

Service connection is granted for right and left knee disabilities.,Service connection is denied for lipoma, sarcoidosis, and COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, any separate and additional respiratory illness as due to undiagnosed illness or MUCMI, and COPD. The remand is required due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to her military service. The VA examiner must provide an opinion addressing if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's COPD had its onset in, or is otherwise related to, her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, arthritis, dyspnea, heart disorder, COPD, sleep apnea, GERD, and back disorder are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for obesity, sleep apnea, chronic heart failure, hypertension, and a scar on the upper left side of chest due to their potential secondary nature to service-connected disabilities. The right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and COPD ratings are also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no medical nexus between his conceded exposure to herbicide agents and COPD or any non-cancerous respiratory disease. The Board concluded that the rejection of transplanted lung resulting from a respiratory disease was not caused by military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disability (claimed as pneumonia) and COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic respiratory condition related to his active military service. The Board also found that exposure to herbicide agents did not cause or contribute to the development of COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including cardiovascular disorder, hypertension, COPD, aneurysm, esophageal disorder, liver disorder, and pancreatitis. The remand is due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis, COPD, heart disease, and prostate cancer to seek verification of in-service exposure to an herbicide agent. The Veteran's alleged exposure occurred during his active duty in Germany from April 1968 to April 1970.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. The respiratory disability claims are denied as they were aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for his respiratory condition, finding that while he has current diagnoses of COPD and calcified granulomas, there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Board concluded that any relationship to service would be due to intercurrent causes such as smoking.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as they are not related to active military service.

The Veteran's service connection for COPD is granted, and he is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema and COPD due to asbestos exposure, hypertension, and stroke secondary to service-connected hypertension. The appeals are now remanded for further development regarding esophageal cancer.