COPD decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and low back strain due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and asthma, as related to the Veteran's exposure to volcanic ash during his military service.

Service connection for prostate disability is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in service.,Service connection for respiratory disability as due to asbestos exposure is denied.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory or pulmonary disability, including COPD, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and irritable bowel disease (IBS), finding that the conditions did not have their onset during service and were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD and chronic bronchitis due to incomplete medical opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and a service-connected disability, specifically chronic sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence and for a VA addendum opinion regarding service connection for COPD, including whether it is proximately due or the result of PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to PTSD, left knee injury, diabetes, bilateral cataracts, hearing loss, COPD, pneumonia, skin condition, and TBI. The appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to asbestos exposure and herbicide exposure should be remanded because VA failed to provide an adequate examination, which constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that the persuasive weight of medical evidence suggests the condition is caused by an extended history of cigarette smoking rather than service exposure to gas.

The Veteran's COPD with chronic bronchitis and gastric ulcer are currently rated at the lowest possible levels (10 percent), as their symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected COPD. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's COPD is granted effective August 10, 2022 due to PACT Act exposure. Service connection prior to this date remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (now depression), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with previous remand directives, specifically regarding a VA opinion on the relationship between COPD and service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for respiratory and urinary conditions is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions. An additional VA examination is needed to clarify the etiology of his current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for emphysema, COPD, and a right ankle disability due to new evidence received since the final rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected right lung spontaneous pneumothorax residuals with segmental resection residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory disorders and his military service, specifically exposure to asbestos.