COPD decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the VA acquired a VA opinion in October 2016 to assess whether the Veteran's cause of death was etiologically related to any service-connected disabilities or his active service. However, this opinion is inadequate as it fails to address medical evidence of record regarding 'complications' during the Veteran's final treatments prior to his death and is silent on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his active service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he can tolerate sedentary or physical work environments that don't involve heavy lifting and prolonged sitting.

The Board has granted service connection for pulmonary aspergilloma, COPD, and lung cancer due to in-service exposure to asbestos and diesel exhaust/particulate matter. The right knee condition secondary to a service-connected left knee total replacement is dismissed.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's pulmonary conditions based on his in-service exposure to asbestos and diesel exhaust/particulate matter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of COPD, finding that there is no positive probative nexus opinion linking his current diagnosis to his military service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's COPD was less likely than not caused by herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of his death, including whether his service-connected conditions and herbicide exposure contributed to his demise.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for COPD is remanded due to a lack of evidence and need for further examination. The issue of veteran status is also on appeal.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disorders other than asthma including chronic cough, COPD and RAD, and sleep apnea syndromes are reopened. The claim of service connection for a thoracic spine disorder (secondary to right shoulder disability), a cervical spine disorder (secondary to right shoulder disability), chronic fatigue syndrome (secondary to sleep apnea syndromes), and migraines (secondary to cervical spine disorder) is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding no competent evidence to support a nexus between his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and his current condition. The Veteran's COPD was attributed to his history of smoking.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for pneumoconiosis and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant requested withdrawal of both issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for COPD, hypertension, hyponatremia, and unexplained weight loss due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran needs to be provided with updated medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his COPD, as well as the incremental increase in disability caused by PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his active service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and COPD are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA must obtain addendum opinions addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions, including their relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for COPD, including exposure to asbestos, gun smoke, and discharged gunpowder during service.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), residuals of a cold injury, and a respiratory disability to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to insufficient evidence supporting the diagnoses or linking them to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran died from non-service-connected causes and did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial death benefits as he was not receiving VA service-connected compensation or pension at the time of his death.

The Veteran's malaria is inactive and without any residual disability of infection, but the Board denied a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran's COPD did not begin during active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bleeding ulcers are not at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury or disease.