COPD decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and bilateral foot condition due to a lack of medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and emphysema, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for liver cancer and COPD, finding that the Veteran's conditions are etiologically related to his military service. The decision is based on medical opinions provided by treating physicians who concluded that the Veteran's conditions were likely caused by asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's cervical arthritis is granted as service connected due to neck pain that began during active duty.,Service connection for emphysema with COPD is granted based on conceded garrison exposures, including jet fuel.

The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's right fifth toe fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issues of service connection for chronic gastritis and gastric hemorrhage due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his exposure during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for seizure disorder, psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder), and denied service connection for COPD. The seizures are presumed related to in-service hyperventilation syndrome. The psychiatric condition is presumed to have preexisted service but the Veteran's current condition is found to be related to service stressors. COPD is not found to be related to in-service symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a lung disability, including lung cancer and COPD, on a direct basis due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to burn pits. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's COPD is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's lung disability (including granulomatous disease, bullous lung disease, and noncancerous lung mass) is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's skin condition prior to August 10, 2022, on a basis other than the PACT Act, is granted due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease, duodenal ulcer, and GERD are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, attributing the condition to smoking and post-service occupational exposure rather than herbicide agent exposure during active duty.,Service connection was also denied for gum disease, with the opinion stating that the Veteran's dental issues were related to his pre-existing poor oral hygiene and periodontal disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The case is remanded for further examination regarding bilateral peripheral vascular disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for COPD is dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of asthma and COPD did not have its onset in or was related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The case was remanded for further development.,The claims of service connection for skin cancer and respiratory disability remain pending and are being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's exposure history. The AOJ must verify the details of the Veteran's ILER, prepare appropriate VA TERA memoranda, and afford him new VA opinions.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD but denied service connection for a separate and distinct respiratory disability, other than COPD. The COPD is found to be related to military service due to asbestos exposure.