COPD decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability other than COPD, including benign lung nodules, finding that there is no current evidence of such a condition during or recent to the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to assist the Veteran with his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing notice regarding military sexual trauma. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and back condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction/loss of reproductive organ is remanded because it is inextricably intertwined with his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for bronchial asthma and COPD are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability is remanded because he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current condition.,The Veteran's claims for frostbite left foot, frostbite right foot, chronic mycotic infection bilateral feet, and bilateral foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, COPD, gout, hypertension, and diabetes have been remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to burn pits and the relationship between his COPD and service. The AOJ is instructed to seek verification of the Veteran's claimed exposure and obtain an addendum medical opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's COPD is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an adequate medical opinion addressing whether his service-connected diabetes mellitus has aggravated his COPD.

The appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's lung disability, including COPD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his service and the condition.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory and groin disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in previous decisions regarding exposure to asbestos and jet fuel, requiring a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 12, 2022 for a 30 percent disability evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected COPD with residuals of TB, status post-pulmonary lobectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to June 23, 2014, and therefore the effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not onset during or immediately after service and were more likely due to cardiomyopathy.,Service connection was also denied for a heart disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the Veteran's claims of respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD with restrictive lung disease. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in a VA medical opinion and inadequate statement of reasons or bases. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD, is now before the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure to jet fuel. The left and right knee disabilities, and GERD are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD, and increased ratings for the service-connected muscle injury, and associated scars were withdrawn by his representative. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of COPD, as there are no pending questions and the Veteran elected direct review.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for COPD as it had already been granted. The Veteran was granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.