COPD decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, tuberculosis, benign mediastinal lymphadenopathy, renal mass/cyst, and osteoporosis due to additional VA treatment records being added to the file.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his respiratory disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, OSA, HTN, and other conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, GERD, a left ankle disability, and COPD are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability as secondary to his service-connected costochondritis, finding that there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between his current respiratory disabilities and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for cause of death due to inconsistencies in a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's TBI caused his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD was withdrawn by her attorney, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of COPD was dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for arthritis of the legs and retina myopathy have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease due to herbicide exposure, but has remanded issues related to acquired psychiatric disability, dysarthria, dementia, aneurysms, COPD, and enlarged prostate.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for left ankle fracture residuals was denied. However, the Board granted service connection for a respiratory condition (to include bronchitis and COPD), effective from May 22, 2014.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for neck pain. The claim of a rating in excess of 30 percent for lung cancer is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an error in providing notice of his right to a hearing before the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD, which contributed to his death, was related to service exposure to toxic gases during training. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for a respiratory condition, including COPD. The Veteran's respiratory issues are currently described as 'other dyspnea and respiratory abnormality' rather than specifically COPD.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to asbestos exposure and secondary alopecia.

The appeal of an entitlement to service connection for Type II Diabetes is dismissed. The appeals of the other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, including consideration of his heart disability and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's COPD is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began in service or is otherwise related to his time in the service.