COPD decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to solvents and asbestos during service, which could affect his respiratory disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and emphysema, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service asbestos exposure. The claim is granted as a full award of benefits sought on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypertension; and a respiratory disorder are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the presence of these conditions. The RO must obtain updated VA and private treatment records and schedule examinations to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable, and service connection for CLL, residuals of myocardial infarction, bilateral hearing loss, OSA (now claimed as secondary to PTSD), and breathing problems (now claimed as COPD) are all denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including his COPD.

The Board is remanding the case due to new evidence received since the July 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case, including a VA physician's opinion linking COPD to service. The Veteran needs to provide clarification regarding this evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, left hip disability, left shoulder disability, and left foot disability. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied as the evidence did not establish that any of these disabilities were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying the diagnosis of respiratory disabilities. The issues on appeal are service connection for a respiratory disability, to include COPD, lung disease, asthma, and shortness of breath, and secondary service connection for PTSD with secondary MDD or as being associated with exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened and are now granted. The Board found that the new evidence submitted since previous denials supports a finding that these conditions may be related to service or pre-existing psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and PTSD, both determined to be due to in-service exposure. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were received during the appeal period.

The Board has found the medical opinion inadequate and remanded for a new one to determine if COPD is related to service, specifically exposure to asbestos.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, tinnitus, and denied service connection for residuals of wisdom teeth extraction, a back disability, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and COPD. The claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, and a left eyelid disability due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. Additional medical opinions are needed in each case.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his rating for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to 10 percent is dismissed.,Service connection for cardiomyopathy and sinus tachycardia prior to September 12, 2016, is denied as there was no communication in that period seeking service connection. The effective date of the awards cannot be earlier than September 12, 2016.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for COPD is remanded due to need for updated VA and private treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for permanency of a total rating for service-connected cardiomyopathy is remanded as the current medical opinion on permanent disability is needed.,The Veteran's TDIU prior to September 12, 2016, is remanded due to its inextricability with the COPD claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete information, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of lung cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory condition and its relation to service, specifically herbicide exposure. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and provide a new examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for COPD and anxiety have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the onset of COPD. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory condition including COPD, RLD and tuberculosis. Service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for Graves' disease, COPD, and PTSD due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's psychiatric condition is being reopened based on new evidence that tends to support a stressor from service.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, and sleep apnea. The claim for COPD is remanded due to potential TCE exposure. The claims for right foot disability and left foot disability are also remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they were not found related to his service or any other compensable basis.