COPD decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's COPD and heart disabilities are being reviewed again by VA medical professionals.

The Veteran's service connection claims for birth defects, COPD, and arthritis with bone disease are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection is not granted as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for Panic Disorder and COPD, including as due to asbestos exposure. The Veteran's claims are not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of COPD or emphysema. The case is now being reviewed by a pulmonologist for clarification.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, combined with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU and SMC housebound effective August 21, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of rating higher than 10 percent for COPD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD, finding that her current condition did not manifest in service or within one year after service and there was no evidence linking it to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD and restrictive lung disorder. The claim will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Veteran's COPD is presumed to have resulted from in-service exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances during active duty service in Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection for a respiratory condition (diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 'COPD') has been granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to military service and due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for hypertension has been granted. The claims of diabetes mellitus, type II, hyperlipidemia, squamous cell carcinoma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are remanded as the evidence does not establish a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for further evidence. The Veteran's blood pressure, kidney disability, anemia, eye disability (jaundice), and respiratory disability are all in question.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his inability to attend VA examinations. The claims will be reviewed again without requiring an in-person examination, and a new VA opinion will be obtained regarding the nature and etiology of each claimed condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of VA examination and to clarify the relationship between service-connected conditions and any respiratory disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the cases, and his conditions were not found to be related to military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to include obtaining private treatment records and an etiology opinion on the Veteran's respiratory disability, including exposure to asbestos. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's respiratory condition and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability or active duty service, including in-service complaints of dyspnea, to his cause of death. The appellant is asked to provide any additional medical records and a VA clinician will be requested to provide an opinion on whether there is a relationship between the Veteran's depression and his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome and klebsiella pneumonia, with hypertension as a contributory cause. Service connection for cause of death is granted due to the PACT Act presumption of association between hypertension and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, asthma, COPD, radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, prostate cancer, and CAD.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's fatal heart disorder was directly caused by his respiratory problems in service and whether the COPD found on death certificate is related to service, including the respiratory problems noted therein.