COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's asthma and COPD, which are considered respiratory disorders. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's heart disability is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure. The COPD claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for COPD, increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II, and increased rating for scar to neck have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for COPD due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to consider other theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except tinnitus have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran. The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Vietnam War Era. Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and military service.

Service connection is granted for COPD, omphalocele, and sleep apnea. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded due to a lack of proper consideration in the initial decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to establish service connection for COPD, and a VA examination is required to consider the Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran's back disorder, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, and COPD are all under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding exposure to burn pits, asbestos, and herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and a right elbow disability have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. Service connection is granted for the right elbow disability, with the link established through in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to small cell lung cancer, which is considered a direct result of active military service. The claim related to VA treatment delay and carelessness in diagnosing and treating the Veteran's condition was denied under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD and throat cancer due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities (TERA), and potential new theories of entitlement under the PACT Act.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, COPD, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis as the evidence did not establish a relationship to service.,Specifically, the Veteran's military records were silent on any diagnosis or treatment of these conditions. The private medical records from 2023 indicated diagnoses but did not relate them to service.

The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on lung function tests.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on range of motion.

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

The Board is remanding the case to properly address whether the severance of service connection for COPD was proper, as the RO only adjudicated whether service connection itself was warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and emphysema due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA examiner is requested to review the Veteran's STRs, lay statements, and provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that his COPD and emphysema had its onset during or is otherwise related to in-service bronchitis.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD and sleep apnea.,The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not support such a rating prior to October 2, 2020.