COPD decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted as service connected. The claims for pulmonary disorder (including pneumonia and COPD) and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, COPD, and MDD have been granted service connection. The hearing loss claim remains denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities is established based on in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between in-service asbestos exposure and the Veteran's cause of death. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in the May 2020 VA opinion, which was based on inaccurate factual premises. The Veteran's respiratory disabilities are related to his service exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his COPD claim. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his COPD, including consideration of exposure to chemicals, jet fuels, asbestos, and Agent Orange.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm and COPD for further development, including obtaining information about exposure to herbicides and asbestos during service.

The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if the Veteran's current respiratory conditions are related to his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

Your claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these matters as they are now closed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if he is entitled to compensation for his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, COPD, basal cell carcinoma on the left cheek, and chloracne. The claims were based on direct service connection without any presumption of service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the rating decision and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability is reopened, but the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that his smoking history and not military service caused his condition.

The Board has found that there are outstanding medical records potentially relevant to the Veteran's claims for service connection and remanded the case for further development.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20% rating for bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a pulmonary disability (COPD and lung cancer).

The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including bronchitis, asthma, and COPD, were not incurred in service and are not otherwise etiologically related to service, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's potential exposure to hazardous materials during his service aboard various Navy vessels. The Veteran is also seeking an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his COPD, including any possible connection to asbestos exposure and presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD and related respiratory disorders is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Board finds that asbestos exposure during service, as well as presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam, may be contributing factors to his current respiratory conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his active-duty service, but due to asbestos exposure. The case is being remanded for further development and an opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD, was not incurred during active duty service. The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's in-service exposures and his current respiratory disorders.