COPD decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for respiratory disability, including asbestosis and COPD, attributing the condition to in-service asbestos exposure. The Veteran's extensive smoking history is also considered.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and emphysema, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded several claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a complete examination for the Veteran's heart disability. The COPD claim is also inextricably intertwined with the heart disability claim.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The decision on the respiratory disorder was due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure, while the hearing loss claim required additional evidence.

The Veteran's COPD is granted under the PACT Act, and his sleep apnea is granted. The service connection for COPD on a basis other than under the PACT Act is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's COPD and his service, specifically related to herbicide exposure and burning ammunition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a breathing disorder, diagnosed as COPD and claimed as pneumonia is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a relationship to in-service events.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress (claimed as PTSD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were dismissed because the claims had already been granted in full in October 2020 and January 2021, respectively.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent from November 3, 2023. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether his symptoms most nearly approximated a METs level of >5-7, which supports a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent from November 3, 2023. The Board found the evidence supported a METs level of >5-7, which corresponds to a 60 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding service connection for COPD. The Veteran's death is noted, and his claims are now being considered by the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the June 2018 examiner's opinion, which did not address both causation and aggravation of sleep apnea. The Veteran's service-connected COPD may have aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD was assigned a noncompensable disability rating throughout the appeal period, as his FEV-1 results were no worse than 89 percent predicted. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for COPD.

The Veteran's service did not qualify for a nonservice-connected pension because he did not serve during wartime periods. The Board denied the claim as there was no active duty service that qualified under VA regulations.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, including asthma, COPD, allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps, is granted as service connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for emphysema, COPD, and psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran's GERD claim is also being remanded as new evidence has been submitted.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's respiratory disorder did not manifest in service and is not etiologically related to service. The evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's COPD and his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD and asthma, is currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the PFT results do not meet the criteria for a 60 percent or higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a special home adaptation grant and service connection for asthma with COPD has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative. As such, the claims are dismissed.