COPD decisions — 2026

The Veteran's asthma, COPD and emphysema are currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his lung function is within the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and initial rating of 100 percent for AICD with congestive heart failure is granted, as is the claim for service connection for pulmonary hypertension associated with sarcoidosis. The Veteran also receives a 100 percent rating for sarcoidosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is dismissed. Service connection is granted for insomnia, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and nerve damage to both lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for COPD and asbestosis, including a lack of nexus opinion.

The Board has granted a TDIU based solely on the Veteran's service-connected headache disability, effective February 1, 2019. Additionally, SMC was granted due to the Veteran having multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantial gainful employment since January 1, 2017.

The Veteran's COPD with exercise-induced asthma is granted an increased rating of 10 percent prior to February 27, 2025, and a 30 percent rating from February 27, 2025 to May 12, 2025, and a 10 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes type II with lower-extremity peripheral neuropathy (PN) render him unemployable and require a need for regular aid and assistance such that he should be awarded a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) for aid and attendance (A&A).

The Board has decided that the claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD, OSA, skin disorder, and diabetes mellitus type II are not final due to outstanding SSA records. The Veteran's federal records from Social Security Administration (SSA) need to be requested.

The Board denied service connection for COPD as secondary to myocardial infarction with CAD and ischemic cardiomyopathy due to the weight of evidence not supporting a causal link between these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further development. The issues include aortic aneurysm, cerebrovascular small vessel disease, COPD, and emphysema.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding no evidence to substantiate the Appellant's contention that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service and thus denying the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD and shortness of breath. The VA is required to obtain and associate outstanding treatment records, and provide a new medical opinion on the etiology of the respiratory condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, glaucoma, COPD, allergic rhinitis, and a neck disorder were denied. The Board found no current disability in each case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and ischemic heart disease due to incomplete records, including service treatment records (STRs), and inadequate VA medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected basal cell carcinoma/actinic keratosis does not require therapy comparable to systemic malignancies and is currently rated at 0 percent.,The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus (10%) has already been assigned. The Veteran cannot be granted a higher rating based on this condition alone.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's shortness of breath or COPD are related to his service, including due to in-service participation in a toxic-risk exposure activity (TERA).,The Veteran's COPD does not appear to be linked to his service. The issue remains remanded as there may be additional information needed.

The Veteran's current respiratory disabilities of COPD and emphysema are not service-connected as they did not have their onset during his active service or are otherwise related to an in-service event, injury, or disease, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 28, 2010, to August 26, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), sleep apnea, and COPD as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected COPD, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Pulmonary Hypertension. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.