COPD decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and respiratory disabilities have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability. The cases of right hip, left hip, and COPD are remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of respiratory disorder, left foot disability, and right foot disability are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking his COPD to his service-connected asthma or any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD has been reopened and granted. The Board found that new evidence, including the Veteran's testimony during his hearing, supports a finding of etiological relationship between his in-service pneumonia and his current COPD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of record. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and COPD, finding that there is no evidence of active tuberculosis during service or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a respiratory disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, specifically COPD, due to potential asbestos exposure during military service. The case is being returned for further development regarding whether infantry gloves used by the Veteran contained asbestos.

The Veteran's service connection for a respiratory condition, including asthma and COPD, is granted on both direct and presumptive bases. Service connection for allergic rhinitis is also granted. However, the Board has remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied reopening service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence was not received to establish a relationship between the Veteran's cause of death (respiratory failure) and service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is related to military service and granted service connection for COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to missing VA treatment records from his active duty service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his respiratory disabilities, including COPD, borderline restrictive lung disease, pleural effusions, and scarring. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's COPD is being reviewed for potential service connection, including consideration of secondary aggravation by his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for COPD, as it pertains to whether it is secondary to service-connected asbestosis. The previous VA examination did not address a July 2019 article indicating a link between asbestos exposure and COPD.

The Veteran's tinea pedis was not rated higher than 0% as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for epididymitis or residuals of epididymitis, erectile dysfunction, sterility, hypertension, heart disability (CAD), stomach disability, skin disability other than tinea pedis, respiratory disability (COPD), and psychiatric disorder were all denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's tinea pedis was rated 0% due to it affecting less than 5% of his body or exposed areas without requiring systemic therapy.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, should be remanded for further examination and opinion due to inadequate previous VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and asthma, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory conditions and active service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive pulmonary disease, including asthma and COPD, is granted. The Board finds that the pre-existing condition of obstructive pulmonary disease (including both asthma and COPD) existed prior to service and was aggravated by service exposure to burn pits.