COPD decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the current COPD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, as well as dismissed his claim for an earlier effective date for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with restrictive component, among other issues.

The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to diesel fuel and solvents.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including respiratory issues and diabetes mellitus, due to a duty-to-assist error involving the development of evidence related to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for COPD, finding that it was most likely related to 20 years of cigarette smoking rather than any in-service exposure or service-connected condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for residuals of a right great toe injury, lung condition, and chronic headaches due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for COPD and chronic sinusitis to obtain new etiology opinions, as the previous negative etiology opinions were found inadequate.

The appeal was withdrawn by the appellant, and therefore, it is dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for an increased initial disability rating for atopic dermatitis, service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and service connection for right knee strain due to deficiencies in the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism and remanded several claims, while dismissing or denying the rest.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of liver transplant with a history of hepatocellular carcinoma status-post liver transplant, claimed as liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. The appeal for PTSD, COPD, and tinnitus was dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for oropharyngeal cancer, cervical node involvement of cancer, and loss of taste on a direct basis due to Agent Orange exposure. A rating of 60 percent was assigned for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension and remanded the claim for a higher initial rating for COPD.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for a VA examination or opinion to determine the etiology of this disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant due to COPD, as it did not meet the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 3.809a.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is dismissed as the benefit sought was fully granted in a June 2024 rating decision.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for headache disorder, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, COPD, colon cancer, and lung cancer were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a head laceration, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for COPD and sleep apnea were remanded for further development.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with dyspnea, as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.