COPD decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma and COPD due to exposure to asbestos, fumes, and chemicals. The VA examiner is requested to provide addendum opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, Hypertension, and Thyroid Disorder due to additional development needed. The issues of service connection are related as they involve overlapping conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability has been granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, but the claims for hearing loss, headache disability, COPD, eye disability, prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, skin disability, stomach disability, arthritis, bilateral foot disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and medical opinions. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but his right wrist disorder, back disorder, and COPD are not yet determined.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand instructions and additional remand is required for further evaluation of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, require the regular aid and attendance of another person due to their severity. The Board finds that SMC based on aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether COPD is caused or aggravated by service-connected CAD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for COPD on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's September 2018 VA Form 9 was timely filed, thus granting the appeal as to whether the substantive appeal was timely.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that the Veteran's current respiratory disorder was not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied as the disability is not shown to be related to his military service or due to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on whether the Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD and lung nodules, is related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The VA needs to schedule a VA examination for this purpose.

The appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for COPD is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory condition, including COPD, finding that the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's claimed respiratory condition is inconclusive.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, including COPD, as it is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD and OSA due to lack of VA examination, failure to report for examination, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate February 2020 VA examination, which did not address whether the Veteran's current respiratory disability is related to his in-service chemical exposure or treatment for pneumonia. The examiner should consider if service connection can still be established even if a condition was not diagnosed in service.

Service connection is granted for lumbar-spine disorder and COPD.,The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and broken-jaw residuals are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent and this rating is maintained for the entire appeal period. The Veteran was also granted service connection for COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and heart disorder due to potential secondary effects from service-connected CVID pansinusitis and rhinitis, as well as possible exposure to herbicide agents.