COPD Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's adjustment disorder, insomnia disorder, and PTSD. Service connection is also granted for asthma, COPD, and emphysema under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected asthma aggravates his COPD.

The Veteran's asthma and COPD are presumed to have been incurred during his active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations due to exposure to fine particulate matter under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's right hand strain is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records and potential VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for COPD on an accrued basis, including a lack of medical nexus opinions and consideration of toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's service-connected polysubstance abuse and dependence is granted as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a TBI with depressive disorder and COPD with pneumothorax.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD prior to August 10, 2022, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD is at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to lung irritants.

The Board has remanded the case for a posthumous medical opinion to determine if any of the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, were related to service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has dismissed all appeals to readjudicate service connection for various conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for COPD, but the July 2020 VA medical opinion is inadequate and requires a remand to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether his COPD was proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on behalf of health care providers.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, COPD, and prostate disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of COPD due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of relevant evidence. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on addressing the articles submitted by the Veteran regarding asbestos exposure and COPD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including lung cancer, kidney/bladder cancer, COPD, hematuria, bone metastasis of the left iliac bone, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD, finding that there was no evidence to show that his current diagnosis of COPD had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person for the period from September 28, 2021 onward. However, there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities alone result in the need for aid and attendance prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD was granted effective September 17, 2020, which also established his need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided were not in compliance with the July 2023 remand directives. The Veteran's respiratory disability, including diagnosed asthma and/or COPD, is being remanded for additional development to determine if it was incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, illness, or event, including exposure to asbestos and/or exhaust fumes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD, specifically related to exposure at Camp Lejeune and smoking history.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the appellant, including a 1975 article discussing adenovirus and a September 2018 private treatment record. The Veteran contends his current respiratory disabilities are related to pneumonia he experienced during service.