COPD decisions — 2025

The Board denied an increased initial rating greater than 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with COPD based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the COPD was aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Board denied initial disability ratings in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and 30 percent for COPD with asthma. The claims for service connection for various disabilities were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and considering his exposure to asbestos during service.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for COPD due to an inadequate VA TERA opinion.

The Board remands the appeal to obtain an opinion from a clinician as to whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC, given that the Veteran has been determined to be in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform certain ADLs.

The appeal for service connection for COPD, a right hand disability, and a left hand disability was denied. The appeal for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was dismissed. Service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with dextroscoliosis, and invertebral disc disease (IVDS), as well as knee instability, was granted with specific ratings.,The Veteran's right hand disability is not related to service.,The Veteran's left hand disability is not related to service.,The appeal for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been dismissed.,A 40 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with dextroscoliosis, and invertebral disc disease (IVDS), was granted from February 22, 2022. A 20 percent rating for right knee instability and left knee instability was granted from March 7, 2021.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the evidence did not support a finding that his COPD began during active service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as a disability of service origin did not cause or contribute to his death.

The Board remands the matter of service connection for a respiratory disorder, specifically COPD, to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected COPD but denied an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for COPD to include restrictive lung disease with asthma as the June 2025 medical opinion is not adequate.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for left hip condition, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to untimely VA Form 10182 submissions without good cause shown.

The Board denied service connection for benign tremors, COPD, prostate cancer, and heart disease as the evidence did not support a conclusion that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart disorder, COPD, and emphysema to cure pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the claims for a compensable rating for hypertension, an increased rating for a left ankle disability, service connection for chronic headaches and a neck injury, and remanded several other claims including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of traumatic brain injury, erectile dysfunction, respiratory disability, right knee disability, and skin condition affecting the feet.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for bilateral plantar warts but denied a higher rating for PTSD. The claims for service connection for right maxillary neurofibroma, COPD, and hammer toes were reopened.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant and no eligible person has been identified for substitution.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his causes of death were not related to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease. A 70 percent rating was also granted for depressive disorder with anxious distress from February 10, 2023.