COPD decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred at LRMC on April 20, 2018 due to lack of prior authorization and because VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis as a chronic respiratory condition is granted.,The claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's cause of death was identified as end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Appellant asserts that the COPD is related to herbicide agent exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam. However, a negative opinion from an October 2018 examiner is provided without sufficient rationale and does not consider all relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his active duty service and his current condition. The opinion concluded that the Veteran's COPD was more likely due to his long history of smoking.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to atherosclerotic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, finding that these conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for various other conditions has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's lung disorders are being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether obesity, caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions, is a substantial factor in causing the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, respiratory condition, skin condition, CAD, and diverticulosis due to inadequate examination findings. The examiner is asked to address whether these conditions are related to service, including exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and left eye disability due to potential issues with the VA examiner's opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, bronchitis, PTSD, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease due to lack of evidence supporting a direct link between these conditions and military service. The claims are also remanded for additional medical opinions regarding potential links to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for lung disease, including COPD and metastatic small cell lung cancer, due to asbestos exposure. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again by a VA examiner.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected. The respiratory disability claim, including COPD and chronic pneumonia, needs further examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asbestosis and COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including asthma and COPD, are not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Wegener's granulomatosis is found to be at least as likely as not the cause of his diagnosed kidney condition, respiratory condition (COPD), and sinusitis.,Service connection for Wegener's granulomatosis has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer, COPD, and lung disorder are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions. The claims for these conditions have been remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disability, specifically whether it is related to service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and type II diabetes mellitus due to incomplete information and treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private medical records from Dr. Szulawski, Leopold & Creighton, Geisinger Health Clinic, and any other relevant records. Additionally, the AOJ must attempt to verify the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicide agents during service and obtain all relevant VA treatment records.