COPD decisions — 2025

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including emphysema, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, but denied increased ratings for COPD, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, lumbosacral strain, migraine with chronic headaches, and residuals of a right ankle fracture. The Veteran was granted TDIU from January 12, 2022.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disability, sleep disorder, skin cancer residuals, prostate cancer residuals, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and dementia, due to insufficient evidence regarding his Vietnam or Thailand service.

The Board remands the claims for a respiratory disability and an eye disability for additional development, including scheduling new VA examinations to ensure compliance with previous remand orders.

The Board granted an initial rating of 100 percent for residuals of lung cancer, status post right upper lung lobe removed with COPD prior to August 4, 2014.

The veteran withdrew her appeal for increased rating of hemorrhoids and service connection for COPD/chronic bronchitis, thus the Board has no jurisdiction to review these claims.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the evidence did not show that it was etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service.

The Board remands the matter for a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected COPD, emphysema, and pulmonary nodules.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, right subluxed posterior tibialis tendon status post repair, and COPD. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and the cause of death, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, but remanded several other claims including an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, prostate disability, COPD, coronary arteriosclerosis, femoral artery disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, dry eye condition, liver disease, toenail fungus, headaches, and hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for hearing loss, neuropathy, prostate condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart condition, and vertigo based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rectal adenocarcinoma was dismissed due to a late filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bladder cancer, and lung cancer as secondary to the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board granted service connection for respiratory disability, including atelectasis, breathing issues, narrowing of trachea, asthma, and COPD on a direct basis.

The Board granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD / emphysema, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a causal correlation between his COPD and in-service exposure to herbicides or other toxic substances.

The Board remands the claims for a respiratory disorder and sleep apnea to obtain new medical opinions that adequately address the Veteran's medical history, including the 1979 and 1982 diagnoses of tuberculosis.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal had already been granted.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for the bilateral knee and bilateral pes planus disabilities and service connection for an upper respiratory infection condition are dismissed.