COPD decisions — 2023

The Board denied the claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits based on service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking his COPD or cardiac arrest to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including as due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The Veteran's current COPD is attributed to his long history of smoking, which is not considered a valid basis for granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, left leg sciatica, and lumbar spine disability has been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's COPD resulted in post-bronchodilator pulmonary function test (PFT) scores no worse than FEV-1 of 40 to 55 percent predicted; or FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent; or DLCO (SB) of 40 to 55 percent predicted. The Veteran's COPD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of the 60 percent assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that his COPD and asthma were not related to his military service.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, OSA, and liver cancer due to asbestos exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for COPD and BPH, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for burial benefits is also remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for cause of death may be granted if it can be shown that his coronary artery disease was caused by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury, migraine headaches, and COPD are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and verification of in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection was denied for scars, status post left upper lobe granuloma removal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior directives and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis. The Veteran served in Vietnam but his military records do not confirm this. The VA is directed to conduct further research and obtain a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and a vocal cord condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran asserts that his current conditions are related to his service-connected pneumothorax disability.

The Veteran's COPD with chronic bronchitis is granted as presumptively due to exposure to specified substances, chemicals, or airborne hazards while serving in Kuwait. The cardiac condition and scar claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete authorization forms and failure to obtain private and prison treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a pulmonary disorder, hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure, and total abdominal colectomy with ileostomy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no direct evidence showing that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability, specifically his claimed asthma and COPD. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are related to service exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in a VA examination report, and further development is needed to address the likely etiology of the Veteran's COPD.