COPD decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a reversal of its previous finding that the presumption of soundness was rebutted, and now needs an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's respiratory condition is related to his service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and COPD, as well as their relationship to service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and additional development is needed, including a toxic exposure evaluation. The Veteran's service connection claim for OSA remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, chronic fatigue syndrome and joint pain, tremors, and tinnitus are granted due to the PACT Act presumption of exposure to burn pits. The claims for service connection for these conditions are based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his ischemic heart disease and COPD and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart and lung disabilities, as well as peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities. The decision also denied entitlement to erectile dysfunction secondary to a service-connected disability.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides or asbestos during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right-hand disability, hepatitis C, respiratory condition (COPD and emphysema), and heart condition (CAD) have all been denied as there is no probative medical evidence to support the assertions that these conditions were incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left pneumothoraces, finding that they are currently stable. The appeal was also denied regarding entitlement to a 10 percent rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities prior to May 31, 2016, as it was inextricably intertwined with the Veteran's claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the necessary VA examinations. The PACT Act does not apply as the Veteran is not a Persian Gulf Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for recurrent pneumonia, respiratory disabilities including COPD and pulmonary fibrosis, and severe arthritis due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances during service. Further examination is needed to address these issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD on a direct service connection basis, finding that his current diagnosis of COPD is related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's pulmonary disability, including asthma and COPD, is remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete compliance with prior Board directives.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis and COPD are granted as service connected, with COPD being granted under the PACT Act.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to trichloroethylene, and thus service connection for COPD is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, finding that there was no medical nexus between his in-service treatment for upper respiratory infections and his current diagnosed conditions of COPD, emphysema, chronic small airways disease, and dyspnea with hypoxemia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, COPD, and hypertensive vascular disease are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and verifying service in Thailand and Camp Lejeune. The PACT Act may be considered for these claims.

The Veteran's right hip trochanteric bursitis and GERD disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation. Service connection is also being remanded for several other conditions.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for COPD, finding that the Veteran's disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6604.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability was dismissed due to his withdrawal. The case is remanded for further development regarding COPD, back, neck, and right knee disabilities.