COPD decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand orders and for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's TERA, including herbicide agent exposure during his service in Vietnam, caused or contributed to the listed immediate causes of death (COPD and/or throat cancer).

Service connection for COPD is granted pursuant to the PACT Act. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for chronic fatigue, muscle spasms, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to lack of a VA medical opinion addressing these conditions in relation to presumed toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memorandum. The Veteran's respiratory disorder, to include COPD, will be examined by VA to determine its onset during service or its relation to in-service exposures.

The Board has granted presumptive service connection for COPD with chronic bronchitis based on exposure to burn pits, but has also remanded the case for a facts-found determination of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or caused by his military service. The evidence did not support a link between his PTSD and either condition.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, COPD, throat cancer, chronic kidney disease, and dysphagia as secondary to asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, migraine headaches, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for COPD and chronic cough is denied as his FEV-1/FVC ratio does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 6604.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 26, 2013 for the grant of DIC benefits based on service connection for cause of the Veteran's death.,Dependency benefits for the Veteran's child were also granted from February 26, 2013 until his 18th birthday in March [REDACTED], 2013.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma and temporomandibular joint dysfunction have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these claims during a hearing.,New evidence has reopened previously denied claims for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, COPD, chronic renal insufficiency, hypertension, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not related to his service and presumed herbicide exposure. A VA examination is needed to provide a definitive opinion.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, and service connection for asthma and COPD are granted. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and skin condition are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's adjustment disorder, insomnia disorder, and PTSD. Service connection is also granted for asthma, COPD, and emphysema under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected asthma aggravates his COPD.

The Veteran's asthma and COPD are presumed to have been incurred during his active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations due to exposure to fine particulate matter under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's right hand strain is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records and potential VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for COPD on an accrued basis, including a lack of medical nexus opinions and consideration of toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's service-connected polysubstance abuse and dependence is granted as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a TBI with depressive disorder and COPD with pneumothorax.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD prior to August 10, 2022, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD is at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to lung irritants.

The Board has remanded the case for a posthumous medical opinion to determine if any of the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, were related to service exposure to Agent Orange.