COPD decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for asthma and COPD, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to in-service event, injury, or disease, including exposure to asbestos, fumes, and chemicals.

The Veteran's COPD is related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, eye conditions, and PTSD due to a lack of adequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to cooperate by attending any future VA examinations or communicating with VA as to why he cannot attend.

The Veteran's hypertension with hypertensive heart disease is granted as presumptively related to his service in Thailand, and the PACT Act of 2022 applies. The COPD is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis or causal link to service.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination and opinion are inadequate for addressing all relevant conditions, including fibrothorax, loculated effusions, and asbestos exposure. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and OSA, finding that the conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's emphysema with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, finding that his FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC levels do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 6603 and 6604.

The Veteran's chest pain, GERD, COPD, asthma, and chronic bronchitis are being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if they are related to service.

Service connection for lung cancer and COPD is granted on a presumptive basis due to the PACT Act. Service connection for other respiratory conditions, including chronic bronchitis, remains pending.

The Veteran's lung disability, including COPD, was denied service connection as there is no evidence of a chronic lung diagnosis or symptoms during service and the VA examiner found that the current condition did not have its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for COPD due to new evidence received after the November 4, 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by asbestos exposure during service, and grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to herbicide exposure in service is being remanded as the VA did not provide a VA examination or obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current diagnosis and service.

The Veteran's hypertension, CVID, lactic acidosis, respiratory disorder (including asthma and COPD), and hypogammaglobulinemia are related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.,Service connection for these conditions is granted based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions and exposure history. The VA is instructed to obtain authorization for private treatment records, provide a new VA medical opinion, and then readjudicate the issues.

The Board has remanded the claim due to incomplete development and a need for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding whether COPD with pleural thickening is related to asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to in-service asbestos exposure. The Veteran will be provided with notice and an examination to determine if his COPD began during service or is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disability, other than COPD and chronic bronchitis, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service. Service connection was also denied for granuloma, as the VA examiner found it less likely related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD and varicose veins render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's COPD was rated as 10 percent disabling and this rating is restored.