COPD decisions — 2026

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD were not considered until October 3, 2019, which is more than a year after the June 25, 2018 intent to file. As a result, these claims are denied as they do not meet the requirement of being filed within one year of the intent to file.,The Veteran's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was also considered on October 3, 2019, and since he does not have a permanent total disability rating prior to that date, his DEA claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residual, scar left medial thigh, status post gunshot wound is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with AUD, Moderate is rated at 70 percent and TDIU based on PTSD alone is granted. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, migraines, COPD, back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for gunshot wound right buttock with sciatic nerve involvement (to include peripheral neuropathy right leg/foot), gunshot wound, left thigh, multiple painful scars bilateral lower extremities, and residuals, scar right buttock and lateral leg is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to procedural errors in the initial decision. The Veteran's asthma and COPD are being considered as part of his respiratory disability claim, while his bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of COPD due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's representative argues that the August 2024 medical opinion is inadequate and requests a thorough addendum TERA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for COPD and a deviated septum due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's active-duty service records contain evidence of respiratory issues, including upper respiratory infections and coughing with yellow-green sputum. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if these symptoms are related to his current COPD. For the deviated septum claim, a VA examination is required to assess whether it was caused by an in-service injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, but has remanded his claim for BPH due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various respiratory conditions due to a deficient notice letter in his initial rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, COPD, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, OSA, left and right below knee amputations, bilateral lower extremity scars, and CAD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hernia, supraventricular arrhythmia, COPD, and hypertension have been granted. The initial rating for hypertension has also been granted at a 10 percent level. Service connection for residuals of broken breastbone, residuals from broken ribs, deviated septum, PTSD, and lumbosacral strain are all remanded.

The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) is dismissed as the Veteran's SMC has been granted based on service-connected conditions and effective dates have already been established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's lung disability, including COPD and lung nodule, is found to be related to his service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for UTIs with kidney stones and BPH, lung cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and dermatophytosis with eczema.,These conditions are being reviewed to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a left hip disorder and hearing loss, but has remanded the claim for COPD due to potential errors in the decision-making process.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's respiratory disability, including difficulty breathing and COPD, is related to in-service toxic exposure risk activities. However, due to a duty to assist error, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD is found to be the primary cause of his death, leading to DIC benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam is related to his current condition.