COPD decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including TB, asthma, and COPD, finding that there is no evidence of active disease during or after service. The Board also found no association with herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to January 19, 2011 is granted as his service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD is granted, and his secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus to include as secondary to COPD is also granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left leg disability (residuals, fracture left proximal fibula with traumatic arthritis left ankle and degenerative arthritis, chondrocalcinosis and osteophyte of the left knee) is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service or exposure to asbestos. The medical evidence established that smoking was the leading cause of his COPD and he had a long history of tobacco use.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for hypotension due to CAD.

The Veteran's lung conditions are denied service connection as they are not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicide agents. His diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted increased ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination, and it is recommended that the Veteran undergoes one for his claimed respiratory disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of January 29, 2018, for service connection for COPD and a 100 percent evaluation for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. The effective dates are based on the date the Veteran submitted his formal claim within one year of filing an Intent to File.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's smoking history is more likely the cause of his condition rather than exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for COPD and chronic bronchitis, finding that January 11, 2011 is the earliest possible effective date.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection, and the Board has remanded for further analysis of secondary service connection for COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions and development of records. The Veteran's pulmonary disability, including emphysema, COPD, and asthma, is being reviewed again.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are presumed to have been incurred in service.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus as it is proximately due to a service-connected disability (bilateral hearing loss).,Service connection is denied for COPD, as there is no evidence of its onset within one year after the last date of herbicide exposure and no other basis for presumptive service connection.,Service connection is denied for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence showing it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within a year after the last date of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's COPD was rated at 30% from October 31, 2018. The Board has now granted a 60% rating for the condition as of that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus, as well as service connection for COPD and a low back disability. The appellant withdrew his appeals prior to the decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the extent of the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service aboard the USS Forrestal. The AOJ is required to verify this exposure and provide specific findings.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, scars status post bladder cancer surgery, COPD, and hypertension. The issues of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus condition, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have persisted to the present.,Service connection was also granted for a pulmonary condition as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence of in-service treatment or exposure to hazardous chemicals that would have caused his later developed COPD. The Board also found that the appellant's statements about in-service exposure were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or exposure to asbestos and herbicides.