COPD decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lung conditions and service, specifically exposure to exhaust fumes and fuel. The VA is instructed to obtain a new opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current lung conditions are at least as likely as not caused by or incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran submitted a timely substantive appeal for his claims of service connection for headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, and depression. The issues are now remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded both the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and the claim for burial benefits due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, which is a significant factor in determining his heart disease and subsequent cerebrovascular accident.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and inconsistencies in previous opinions. The Veteran's pulmonary disabilities are being evaluated again, with a focus on their onset during service and any relationship to his in-service environmental exposures.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for aggressive bullous in lungs and COPD due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology, including as related to conceded herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and PTSD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the service member's death was caused by his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The appellant must provide updated VA and private treatment records, and a new opinion is needed from a VA clinician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asbestosis, asthma, COPD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 2005. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU for the period from March 22, 2005 to April 22, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to a lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include migraine disorder, lung disorder (COPD), colon disorder (IBS), kidney disorder (renal mass), and vertigo.

The Board has remanded the claims for emphysema, COPD, and asbestosis due to inadequate etiological opinions. The Veteran's service connection claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the causes of the Veteran's COPD, hepatitis C virus, and skin rash. The issues related to tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a skin rash are denied as they did not manifest within one year of service separation or were caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition and he did not die in a contingency operation. Therefore, the appellant is not entitled to payment of death gratuity benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding asbestos exposure and private medical records. The VA will need to complete these tasks in order to properly adjudicate the service connection claim for the cause of death.

The Veteran's pleural disease and COPD are granted as service-connected due to in-service asbestos exposure. The hypertension claim is remanded for a TERA examination, and the TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence. The appeal is granted to this extent only, with the case being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and COPD, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting VA examination findings regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability, which may be related to service. Additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and diabetes, finding that additional development is needed to address the likelihood of causation or aggravation by his service-connected PTSD.