COPD decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability to include COPD due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The Board finds the Veteran's current diagnosis of unspecified depression with anxious distress less likely related to his military service.,The Veteran's back disability is denied as there is no evidence of chronic in-service back injury, no showing of a compensable degree within one year after separation from service, and no established continuity of symptoms. The Board finds the Veteran's current diagnosis of unspecified depression with anxious distress less likely related to his military service.,The Veteran's respiratory disability (COPD) is not service-connected as there is no evidence of chronic in-service disease or injury, nor any showing of a compensable degree within one year after separation from service. The Board finds the Veteran's current diagnosis of unspecified depression with anxious distress less likely related to his military service.,The Veteran's headaches with vomiting are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The Board finds the Veteran's current diagnosis of unspecified depression with anxious distress less likely related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to determine if service connection can be established for breathing disorder, left-hand disability, and right-hand disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and COPD due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is remanded. The appeal regarding the increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, a heart condition, foot conditions (pes planus, plantar fasciitis, neuropathy), and peripheral neuropathy. The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active duty service, including due to tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD and TDIU due to inadequate medical examination in determining whether COPD is related to service-connected recurrent pneumonia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's bone loss, allergy shot residuals, COPD, and allergic conjunctivitis are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of pneumonia with left lower lung scar and COPD are rated at 30 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's service-connected chronic left Achilles tendonitis is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that there was no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's nose/sinus disability (claimed as allergies) and COPD are remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's perforated right eardrum, bilateral shin splints, left arm skin lesion, and cervical spine disability are all remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for COPD due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current COPD is aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that a respiratory disability pre-existed service, whether any such disability was aggravated during service, and to provide an opinion on the etiology of the left shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and cirrhosis of the liver as there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service, including exposure to JP-4 jet fuel.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for COPD, CAD, and hypertension are granted due to their aggravation by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,The cause of death (septic shock due to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection) is attributed to the underlying disease (coronary atherosclerosis), which is service-connected.,Initial ratings for cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a variously diagnosed respiratory disorder, including histoplasmosis, bronchitis, COPD, and bronchiectasis, finding that there is no probative evidence to warrant such a determination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2017 VA examination, which did not address tumors and neoplasms affecting the Veteran's pulmonary system. The Veteran is required to provide a retrospective addendum opinion regarding his bronchial asthma with COPD prior to September 18, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, but has remanded the claim for a respiratory disability, including COPD. The decision is based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease with cardiomegaly, and if so, whether they contributed to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability did not have its onset during active service, was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, and arthritis did not manifest within one year after service discharge.,Similarly, the Board determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its onset during active service, was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, and arthritis did not manifest within one year after service discharge.,The Board also found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not have its onset during active service, was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, and arthritis did not manifest within one year after service discharge.,Regarding COPD, the Board concluded that it did not have its onset during active service and was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service.,The Veteran's neuropathy of the right upper extremity (claimed as numbness of the right hand) and neuropathy of the left upper extremity (claimed as numbness of the left hand) were also found to have no onset during active service, be unrelated to any disease or injury incurred in service, and not manifest within one year after service discharge.