COPD decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma and COPD, effective October 14, 2023. The separate rating for asthma was denied.

The Board granted the restoration of service connection for COPD, finding that the severance of service connection was improper.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for various conditions as they were duplicative of other appeals.

The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with emphysema, finding that the evidence supports a direct link to the Veteran's exposure to fire and burns in service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, and testicular cancer to obtain additional evidence.

The Board restored the 10 percent rating for cervicitis, denied increased ratings for knee and GERD conditions, and denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with asthma and COPD. The TDIU claim was remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA opinion and to obtain outstanding treatment records.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and COPD is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for leishmaniasis and COPD, while remanding claims for sleep apnea, bilateral elbow disability, left shoulder disability, and chronic headaches.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for COPD and sleep apnea as the VA medical opinions are inadequate to determine if these conditions were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disorders.

The Board remands the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's COPD is related to his military service, including exposure to ammonia.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding no evidence linking his respiratory failure, pneumonia, malignant neoplasm of the esophagus, gastrointestinal bleeding, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to his military service, including exposure to herbicides and Camp Lejeune contaminated water.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and denied the claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as for lumbar spine disability, coronary artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a total disability rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was dismissed. The appeals for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left ankle disability and service connection for PTSD were denied. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board remanded several claims for further development, including service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and headaches secondary to allergic rhinitis, as well as increased ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, penile scars, and tinea cruris in the groin.

The appeal regarding service connection for PTSD was dismissed, while the claims for a right shoulder disability and tinnitus were granted. Other claims for hearing loss, asthma, hip disability, COPD, eye disability, stomach disability, and left ankle disability were denied or remanded.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on a basis other than as pursuant to the PACT Act due to an inadequate etiology opinion.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's condition and his active service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board granted service connection for hyperthyroidism and denied service connection for glaucoma, sleep apnea, lung condition (including COPD and asthma), GERD, breast cancer, IBS, blood clots, and heart condition. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were remanded.