COPD decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for COPD with asthma, scarring, and pulmonary nodules is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's COPD and allergic rhinitis are granted as presumptively related to his service exposure to burn pits. The claims for Diverticulitis, Erectile Dysfunction, Stomach Disorder, and Joint and Muscle Pain are remanded due to incomplete information on the dates of National Guard service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral knee disability, chronic pancreatitis, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, pneumonia, and COPD, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory disorders and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II. Service connection was also granted for left upper extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and COPD are being remanded due to the need for compliance with special development procedures for asbestos-related claims, as well as a review of the PACT Act regarding toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection for OSA, as it may be related to service-connected interstitial lung disease and its associated disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions. The appellant needs to provide additional treatment records, including those from Boston Medical Center, for a VA clinician to determine if COPD or respiratory failure is related to service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service, and thus denied claims for COPD, lung cancer, CAD, colon cancer, bladder cancer, and diabetes mellitus. The cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and COPD. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disability and lung condition are remanded due to incomplete records. The appellant is requested to provide any relevant medical records or other documents, and the RO will attempt to rebuild the file by contacting the scanning contractor and requesting copies of service medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the current ratings do not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the severity of his COPD, degenerative arthritis of the left wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists, and other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for COPD and left trigger thumb, as well as to determine the severity of his current left-hand disabilities. The Board finds that there may be additional disabilities related to his service-connected trigger thumb.

The VA denied compensation for COPD caused by lisinopril due to lack of medical evidence showing the medication actually caused the condition.

The Board denied service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, OSA, and COPD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder due to insufficient evidence. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's scar, lower anterior neck associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating.

The appeal for service connection of COPD has been withdrawn and dismissed. The appeals for service connection of upper back/neck disability and low back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his heroin addiction, which in turn led to hepatitis C.,The Veteran's current COPD was not related to any in-service respiratory issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's asthma and COPD are etiologically related to his conceded participation in toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during service. The PACT Act requires this additional consideration.