COPD decisions — 2022

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted as incurred in service. The Board also found that the Veteran's COPD and coronary artery disease are not directly related to service, but did not dismiss these claims due to a lack of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a low back disability and COPD due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The Board noted that the Veteran did not have any respiratory complaints or diagnoses during service and that his COPD is more likely related to smoking tobacco cigarettes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to service, while hypothyroidism, vertigo (secondary to hypothyroidism), and granulomas in the lungs are remanded for further development.,Service connection is denied for COPD, tinnitus, and vertigo due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Hypothyroidism, vertigo (as secondary to hypothyroidism), and granulomas in the lungs remain under consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory condition (to include COPD) and a heart condition due to exposure to Agent Orange during military service in the blue waters of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for an adequate examination. The Veteran's service-connected recurrent pneumonia with lung scarring is claimed as a basis for TDIU, but his other respiratory conditions are also considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development regarding asbestos exposure and its relation to the Veteran's death. A new medical opinion is needed to determine if any of the causes of death are related to service, particularly in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for traumatic partial pneumothorax, right lung with COPD, and lower lung pleural pulmonary fibrosis was denied. The criteria for the requested increased ratings were not met based on the provided medical evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is presumed to be related to an injury in service.,New evidence has been received, reopening the claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity.

The Veteran's COPD is granted for the purpose of accrued benefits, and he died from COPD.,He is also granted service connection for his cause of death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of his knee, back, COPD, and hemorrhoids disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient information regarding his service connection for COPD and residuals of a cold injury. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to his active service, particularly his service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for spontaneous pneumothorax with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prior to March 1, 2022 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need for additional testing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his conditions.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including COPD and asthma, were not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The skin condition was also not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period.,Loss of eyesight during service is currently under consideration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection can be decided. The case will be sent back to the AOJ for review of all evidence added since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for various conditions, including COPD, Graves' disease, stomach problems, chronic pain syndrome, coronary atherosclerosis with stent, hypertension, reflux, and psychiatric disabilities have been granted. The issues of service connection for otitis externa, otitis media, cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is dismissed because it was already pending under another AMA appeal stream. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for asthma with emphysema/COPD and TDIU are remanded due to procedural errors.