COPD decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for emphysema and/or COPD, finding that the evidence did not support a direct or secondary relationship to the Veteran's service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and special monthly compensation due to an error in a TERA memorandum regarding the Veteran's exposure during his service.

The Board remands the service connection issue for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to correct an error in satisfying a regulatory duty related to notice of the right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for aortic aneurysm, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, and COPD as they were either moot or not supported by new and relevant evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for COPD to correct predecisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to outstanding records, TERA compliance, and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining VA treatment records and an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's COPD and his military service.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial disability ratings for obstructive sleep apnea with COPD and lumbosacral strain to correct duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for COPD and sinusitis was dismissed due to a procedural defect of an improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the grant of service connection for hypertension and a 10 percent evaluation from that date. The TDIU was denied before April 4, 2024.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a rating higher than 60 percent for lung disability and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for COPD with bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.

The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 due to presumed exposure to burn pits and other toxins during Gulf War service.

The appeal for asbestosis was granted, while the claims for a compensable rating for hypertension and service connection for an upper respiratory condition were remanded.

The Board remands the matter for an adequate VA medical opinion to address the Veteran's reported treatment for bronchitis shortly after service in 1969 and whether his COPD is a continuation/progression or complication of his longtime history of bronchitis.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the evidence did not support a nexus between the condition and the Veteran's service, specifically due to his long history of smoking.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and right kidney cancer, removed, to obtain additional evidence.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition to include COPD and emphysema, as there is an inadequate medical opinion regarding secondary service connection.