COPD decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD and increased ratings for lymphedema of the bilateral lower extremities and right ankle disability due to insufficient development or examination results.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorder and headache disorder.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issues of initial disability rating for chronic bronchitis with reactive airway or asthma, and TDIU prior to October 5, 2010.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any lung disorder other than the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary embolism. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU will not be addressed.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral lung disability, to include COPD and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity. The Veteran's claim for bilateral eye disability, headaches, left cubital tunnel syndrome, GERD, and erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.,Service connection cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a current disability in service records or subsequent treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD and pneumonia, skin cancer, a back disability, and a heart disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or chronicity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that the Veteran's COPD was not caused by his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for asthma, COPD, arthritis of the hands and feet, and cervical spine disorder. The VA examiners were requested to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to military service, including herbicide exposure, or if they are proximately due to or aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma was dismissed. A 100% evaluation is granted from April 8, 2021, forward, for his service-connected chronic bronchitis with COPD.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of service connection for cervical spine strain due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claim of service connection for COPD, but remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the right knee and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30%.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to duty to assist, submission of evidence, and compliance with regulations. The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 60 percent, but no higher. Service connection for CAD and COPD are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, or reopening of previously denied claims have been granted. The case is remanded for further development on some issues.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The claim for increased rating for CAD from October 1, 2014 to July 16, 2015 was granted with a 60% disability rating. The claim for increased rating for CAD from November 1, 2015 to May 26, 2021 was denied. Service connection for hypertension is granted due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The claim for secondary service connection for COPD due to CAD was denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The right and left lower extremity vascular disorders are denied, with the examiner finding no direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's lung disorders, including lung cancer, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, bullous emphysema, and pulmonary nodules are being remanded for further development due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD and asthma, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his military service and his current respiratory conditions.