COPD Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions addressing the direct and TERA exposure theories of etiology. The Veteran's VA treatment records are incomplete, and additional efforts must be made to obtain them.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. Claims for right eye cataract, foot pain, lung cancer, hypertension, heart disability, PVD and bilateral iliac artery stents, interstitial lung disease, COPD, and benign prostate condition are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his presumed exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because they were not filed within one year of the rating decisions, and no good cause was shown for the late filing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for COPD, finding that his FEV-1 result of 93.2% predicted most accurately reflected his disability level and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 6604.

The Veteran's COPD was productive of FEV-1 of 40- to 55-percent predicted during the appeal period, and the Board granted a 60 percent evaluation for COPD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was dismissed due to procedural defects in filing the VA Form 10182.,Service connection claims for various conditions were denied as the appeals were filed after the decisions became final.

The appeal for a compensable rating for respiratory disorders prior to October 24, 2018; a rating in excess of 10 percent from October 24, 2018; and an evaluation in excess of 60 percent from November 6, 2024 is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition, including COPD, finding no evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is about whether he should be granted a separate compensable rating for his chronic cough disability, which is distinct from his service-connected respiratory disabilities. The Board finds that the VA did not properly address this issue and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran has a separate chronic cough disability.

The Veteran's COPD with asthma and bronchitis is granted an initial 60 percent rating, but no higher. Service connection for a hip disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, lung cancer, and asthma. The decision finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service exposure to asbestos through a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lung disease, including COPD, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the cause of COPD and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bruxism, COPD, gallbladder removal residuals, left knee disability, right knee disability, chronic bronchitis, and GERD are not supported by competent evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service. The claims have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea, systemic lupus erythematosus (autoimmune disease), neuropathy, heart palpitations, COPD, and PTSD due to exposure to herbicide agents or other chemicals used to spray foliage during his service in Korea. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain community care treatment records, develop the Veteran's reported in-service stressor, and schedule a VA examination for COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence, including obtaining relevant Community Care treatment records and a further VA examination with pulmonary function testing.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a TERA examination. The Veteran's respiratory condition is being recharacterized as service connection for a respiratory condition, including chronic bronchitis and COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an additional medical opinion on whether COPD had its onset in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to his service, specifically his exposure to toxic exposures during active duty.

The Veteran's cause of death (COPD and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) is not service-connected as there is no evidence showing the conditions had their onset during service or were related to any incident of service, including in-service asbestos exposure. The Board finds that smoking was not caused by his service-connected disabilities.