COPD decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a specialist's opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed COPD, as well as the need to obtain private treatment records from Dr. J.S.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a kidney disability, respiratory disability, and right knee arthritis due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, and parkinsonism as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.,The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times but he failed to attend VA examinations. The Board considered his lay statements but found them insufficient to establish a medical relationship.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, upper back disability, and lower back disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will obtain additional evidence and provide a more complete examination.

The Veteran's pleural plaques with COPD required outpatient oxygen therapy prior to June 25, 2019 and a 100% rating was granted for this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypoglycemia, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for glaucoma, COPD, and Raynaud’s syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology and nature of the Veteran's COPD and other respiratory disorders. The matter is being returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee injury and COPD due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. Additional development is required, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician that addresses conflicting medical evidence of record and the Veteran's lay contentions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, finding that there is no evidence to support his contention of asbestos exposure during service and concluding that his current diagnoses are more likely related to smoking history than to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, emphysema, and asthma as the evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service respiratory problems.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the Board found insufficient evidence to establish that asbestos exposure during service contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and aortic aneurysm due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA is directed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's current COPD and aortic aneurysm are related to his military service, including exposure to dust, fuels, solvents, rocket fuels, or herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including asthma and COPD, as well as his ENT disorders, including maxillary sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and hypertrophy of the right inferior turbinate, all related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's left eye disorder is denied as not related to service or a current disability. Other issues such as eczema, respiratory disorders, psychiatric conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorders are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and medical opinion regarding service connection for respiratory disease, including COPD and asbestosis. The Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service is conceded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type 2 as the evidence did not support a link to service.,Service connection was also denied for secondary conditions of hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2 related to COPD.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding a medical nexus between the Veteran's current diagnosis and asbestos exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for COPD, including verification of exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos or chemical exposure during service. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information about his service history and any potential exposures.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for COPD due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded as it also involves claims for tinnitus and sleep apnea, which are not currently before the Board.