COPD decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, basal cell carcinoma, and multiple lipomas due to in-service herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are all granted. The COPD claim is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is granted, and he is also granted a TDIU due to his service-connected psychiatric disability, COPD, and hepatitis B preventing him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, anemia residuals, a heart disorder (including chronic heart failure and peripheral vascular disease), and carotid artery disease. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred during service or caused by in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a respiratory disorder and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to his claimed in-service exposure to dust. The examiner reviewed the Veteran’s STRs and OPTs but did not address his contentions about shortness of breath symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA is required to obtain additional records from SSA and U.S. Army Crime Records Center regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors. A VA examination must be conducted to determine the precise nature of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of COPD, renal cancer (secondary to diabetes mellitus type II), and hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus type II) due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of COPD, lumbosacral strain with DJD, hypertension, and tinea pedis have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last decisions. The AOJ will review this additional evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for hypertension, skin disability, and respiratory disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of asthma, COPD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to the death of the Appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The Veteran must provide evidence that he served within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam coast while on board the USS Turner Joy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his in-service exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal, including those related to respiratory disorders and sleep apnea. The Board dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus due to a procedural error in sending correspondence to the wrong representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD and Asthma due to new evidence and arguments submitted by the Veteran's attorney, including concerns about asbestos exposure and potential service-related exposures such as diesel fumes, paint particles, and mold. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, finding that the Veteran's MOS of ship's cook and gunman had a minimal risk of asbestos exposure. The opinion also considered his work in a sheet metal factory but concluded that working there posed a greater risk of asbestos exposure than his military duties.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for traumatic partial pneumothorax, right lung with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lower lung pleural pulmonary fibrosis from August 18, 2015. The issue of higher initial ratings was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and COPD due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions, and additional development is needed.