COPD decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and organic heart disease have been granted. The rating for organic heart disease has been increased to 100 percent effective from September 22, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for COPD and restrictive lung disease. The examiner needs to provide a new opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service, including upper respiratory infections in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, diagnosed as pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and asthma, for substitution and accrued benefits purposes. The evidence shows that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's COPD is being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting opinions and the need for a more detailed explanation regarding his exposure history.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his service, specifically Agent Orange exposure. However, due to conflicting evidence and lack of clear opinion, the case is being sent back for further examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the GERD, high blood pressure, and respiratory disorder claims due to new VA medical records submitted after the transfer of the appeal to the Board. The Veteran's GERD claim will be remanded for an addendum opinion on whether it is aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type II or obstructive sleep apnea. The high blood pressure claim will be remanded for an addendum opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and obesity, as well as whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type II or obstructive sleep apnea. The respiratory disorder claim will be remanded for clarification of the presence of a COPD diagnosis during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 50 percent, but no higher, for depression with PTSD has been granted. The issues of service connection for connective tissue disease, lupus erythematosus, peripheral neuropathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and loss of vision in the right eye have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to exposure to mustard gas and asbestos. The VA is required to obtain additional medical records, verify in-service asbestos exposure, and provide an addendum opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory/pulmonary disability other than asthma, to include bronchiectasis and COPD, finding that there was no evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after service. The Board also found insufficient medical opinion supporting a link between any current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during Vietnam service.,Service connection for COPD and bilateral lumbar radiculopathy with left foot drop are denied because the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service, including presumed herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's heart disability is granted as 100% disabling prior to March 18, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of development regarding potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran is seeking service connection for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and diabetes disabilities allegedly related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities in determining his eligibility for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The claim will be referred back for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, migraine headaches, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied as there is no current disability or evidence of a link to service.

The Veteran's COPD with right lung nodule and history of partial left spontaneous pneumothorax and partial left upper lobectomy was granted a 30 percent rating for the appeal period prior to February 14, 2019. For the appeal period beginning on February 15, 2019, he is granted a 100 percent rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and no service connection or rating decisions were made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and hypotension, finding insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to provide opinions on whether his current conditions are related to his in-service exposures.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the cause of death and the potential connection to Camp Lejeune exposure. The appellant needs additional time to seek and provide evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issues include PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a stroke, bilateral lower extremity PAD, COPD, asthma, and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at zero percent prior to September 9, 2020 and at ten percent thereafter. The Board found no evidence of a worsening of the disability earlier in the appeal period.,Service connection for COPD was denied as there is no persuasive evidence that the current condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.