COPD decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD, which was linked to his service-connected lung cancer, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claim is not about a service connection issue but rather an initial decision that does not require further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and potential TERA exposure, requiring a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure and/or Agent Orange exposure, as well as secondary service connection. The AOJ is instructed to obtain etiological opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for status post lung cancer, right upper lobectomy and determined that the Veteran's respiratory impairment was primarily due to his non-service-connected COPD.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided were insufficient to make a decision on the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's PTSD caused him to continue using tobacco products after service, which led to his COPD.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a skin rash is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for COPD due to potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board granted service connection for COPD, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's COPD is causally related to his active military service.

The Veteran's COPD and chronic bronchitis are granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied a compensable rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for asthma, bronchitis, COPD, pneumonia, and skin cancer as untimely due to failure to file a timely Notice of Disagreement within one year of receiving the August 2, 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a TERA report and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, as well as service connection for his respiratory conditions. The DIC claim is also being remanded in conjunction with these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current lung conditions and his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, blood clots in legs, foot spurs, lumbosacral spine disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder as the weight of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral neuropathy in all extremities, and Parkinson's disease due to herbicide exposure for further development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic bronchitis and COPD were initially manifested during active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for COPD was granted, while the claims for allergic rhinitis and OSA were remanded.,Service connection is being reconsidered for all three conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is deceased.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The sinus disorder claim is remanded as there was an inadequate VA examination prior to the March 2023 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and emphysema, finding that there is no in-service event or injury related to these conditions. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's COPD and emphysema are more likely due to his long-term smoking history.,The Board also found that the Veteran's COPD and emphysema are not secondary to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the two conditions.