COPD decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sinusitis, and COPD, finding that his respiratory conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by service. The Board also found no evidence of asbestos exposure or a link between COPD and active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's COPD is not proximately caused by or aggravated by service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, and it is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's left foot disability, right foot disability, acquired psychiatric disability, COPD, GERD, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all granted as service-connected. The OSA claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory conditions, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is remanded. The Board finds that a new examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a respiratory disorder, to include emphysema, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a potential denial of due process and new evidence submitted by the attorney. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder with paranoid schizophrenia contributed substantially or materially to his death from COPD/CHF.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as service connected. The Board finds the evidence to be in approximate balance and grants service connection for COPD. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of chronic sinusitis and COPD, as well as service connection for PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification regarding his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, pulmonary nodule diagnoses, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, chronic laryngitis, and benign neoplasm of sinus are remanded for further evaluation due to lack of a nexus opinion regarding their relation to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and COPD have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not be presumed exposed to herbicides. Additionally, his symptoms were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted as of March 14, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee conditions, stomach condition to include GERD, hypertension, COPD to include as due to asbestos exposure, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, as the evidence does not support a finding that it was related to service. The Veteran's CAD and DM II were also denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD and new effective dates for service connection claims were denied. The Veteran was granted a 70% rating for PTSD from March 17, 2014 to August 5, 2015.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that hypertension and related conditions did not manifest in service or were otherwise not causally related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between COPD and service, including exposure to asbestos, gun smoke, discharged gunpowder, and red lead paint. The Veteran's file must be transferred to a new examiner for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was reopened due to new and material evidence. However, the underlying claim of entitlement to service connection for COPD is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for COPD and for permanency of a total rating for service-connected cardiomyopathy are dismissed. The appeal seeking TDIU prior to September 12, 2016 is also dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.