COPD decisions — 2023

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of OSA due to new and material evidence. However, it denied all other claims as there is no causal relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, warranting readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, a digestive disorder, a back disability (claimed as stomach condition), an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established.,Service connection for a respiratory disability (COPD and pulmonary nodules) and a cardiac disability (valvular heart disease, bradycardia, congestive heart failure) is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal of the December 2018 rating decision was not timely perfected, and the Board has waived this issue in order to address the merits of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder), hypertension, gout, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, lower back DJD, neck disorder with pain and numbness down the hands, and COPD. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for alopecia areata is denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, a respiratory disorder, bronchitis, and COPD is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for pulmonary embolus is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for deep vein thrombosis and venous embolism and thrombosis of the right lower extremity is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for a disability of the right knee is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for esophageal cancer and COPD, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial evaluation for COPD. The case is remanded to obtain VA treatment records from March 2022 onwards.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective December 12, 2017. Service connection for COPD is granted. The left knee disability evaluation is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer lesion residuals, COPD, and solitary pulmonary nodule are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,An additional VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and active service, specifically herbicide exposure.

The Board denied DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking the causes of death to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requests additional etiology opinions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for primary myelofibrosis, a chronic condition to account for kidney failure, COPD, diabetes, and emphysema are reopened. The issues of service connection for these conditions due to petrochemical exposure, including benzene, are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence connecting his current condition to his military service or environmental exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted with new and material evidence. The issues of right knee disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, adjustment disorder, alcohol use disorder) are all now resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right ankle Achilles tendonitis was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.,Service connection for COPD due to exposure at Camp Lejeune was denied, with the Board finding no current diagnosis of COPD in the record.,Service connection for pulmonary embolism claimed as coronary heart disease due to exposure at Camp Lejeune was also denied, with the Board noting a lack of current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disorder, hypertension, left knee DJD, and right knee DJD were remanded for further review.