COPD decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for anxiety disorder, COPD, and HIV infection.

The Veteran's application for enrollment in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was denied because he is able to independently perform his activities of daily living and does not need personal care services.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of evidence, specifically a high resolution CT scan and an addendum medical opinion from the March 2024 VA Pulmonary Specialist.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD and an increased rating for CAD. The COPD claim requires a retrospective opinion considering all conceded in-service exposures, including those not previously discussed (e.g., industrial solvent, PCBs, vibration, noise, CARC Paint, PFAS, and Radiation). The CAD claim requires issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case addressing entitlement to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of COPD and hypertension have been denied.,The reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 30% to 50% has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The issues are whether OSA is secondary to PTSD, COPD, or asthma.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, emphysema, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea (OSA) as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to the Veteran's military service or in-service exposures.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances during military service is at least as likely as not related to his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain missing National Guard records, including those from his time in the Alabama Army National Guard.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection of sleep apnea, COPD, and an earlier effective date for a 60% evaluation of asbestosis. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 60% for CAD is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to the Veteran's service-connected cardiac disability, and dismissed the DIC claim as moot.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for chronic bronchitis and COPD was granted, with the effective date being February 14, 2018. The current rating is 100 percent.

The Veteran's asthma with COPD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including back surgery, COPD, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus type II, are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for COPD prior to October 21, 2024, and a higher rating from that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating at any time during this period. For the period after October 21, 2024, the Veteran's COPD is rated as 30 percent disabling. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for hypertension, COPD, and supraventricular arrhythmias.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and asbestosis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder other than pleural plaques, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos and that his current respiratory disorders are more likely due to smoking. The Board also found that secondary service connection is not warranted.

The Board has granted effective dates of September 4, 2021, for the grant of service connection for COPD, lymph node cancer, left femur cancer, and left tonsil cancer. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted with an effective date of September 4, 2021.