COPD decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis and his claimed COPD. Additionally, there is uncertainty about whether the Veteran had type I diabetes mellitus during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher COPD rating and service connection for a lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and COPD due to a Bryant violation, requiring further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the appellant's eligibility for VA benefits, and therefore the underlying service connection claims are remanded to determine if she is entitled to these benefits.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues remain remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and her service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to severe acute respiratory distress, septic shock with multiorgan dysfunction, and Acinetobacter bacteremia. The Board found that his service-connected PTSD did not substantially or materially contribute to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back disability and COPD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a fall was denied as the evidence did not show that his treatment caused by prescribed medication resulted in additional disability.,The Veteran's service connection claim for syncope secondary to COPD was also denied because there is no evidence showing that his COPD aggravated or caused his syncope.

All service connection claims for various conditions are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tremors and a respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD. The Veteran's tremors are denied as not related to military service or herbicide exposure. For the respiratory disorders, an addendum medical opinion is needed to determine if they began during service or are causally related.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure and contaminated water Camp LeJeune exposure. The evidence does not support a finding that his lung disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD and sleep apnea was granted, but his claim for COPD remains pending.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for sleep apnea and breathing trouble (including COPD, asthma, and emphysema) due to insufficient compliance with previous directives. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from March 26, 2015 to November 29, 2022 is being remanded due to insufficient evidence supporting a finding of unemployability based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand instructions and additional remand is required for further development of the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and squamous cell carcinoma due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination, and new examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation as secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea. The appeal regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is remanded.

The appeals for service connection for the listed disabilities are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure and the etiology of his respiratory disabilities. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records, and a VA clinician will be asked to provide an addendum medical opinion.