COPD Board decisions

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the November 2019 remand directives and has ordered a new VA examination by a pulmonologist to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed respiratory disorder.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's causes of death, including whether any were caused by his active service or arose during it. Specifically, the examiner must consider the Appellant's assertion that the Veteran suffered from respiratory symptoms during his active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking his death to in-service events or exposures.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran did not have COPD during service and that it is unrelated to any in-service exposure or events.

The Veteran died from a cardiorespiratory condition and was not receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of his death. Therefore, he did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic sinusitis is granted.,Service connection for COPD and heart valve replacement, both claimed as due to asbestos exposure, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory disabilities and their relation to service, specifically noting 'crepitant rales' in his service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD status post CABG due to outstanding private treatment records and additional opinions needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a lung disorder, including COPD, due to exposure to asbestos. The case will be reviewed again with an addendum opinion from another VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and COPD due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting evidence. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to consider relevant private opinions. The Veteran's lung disease is being reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because his service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, sleep apnea with COPD, and erectile dysfunction, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory/pulmonary condition other than a restrictive right lobe condition, including COPD, emphysema, OSA, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, and asthma/bronchial asthma. The claim for allergic rhinitis was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The claim for service connection for COPD is reopened and granted. The appeal is also granted to the extent of remanding issues related to bilateral knee disorders, left shoulder disorder, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory conditions, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the claimed conditions to active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia, stomach condition, esophageal condition, hepatitis, asthma, and COPD were denied as the evidence did not show a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Specifically, the VA examiner found that the Veteran's diagnoses of iron deficiency anemia, gastric AVM, intestinal AVM, gastritis, candida esophagitis, and corrosive esophageal disease were less likely caused by his presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and other respiratory disabilities, including exposure to asbestos in service. The Veteran must be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory disabilities.

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 asbestos at Fort Jackson. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's 30 percent rating for pneumoconiosis is restored. The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a higher rating for pneumoconiosis and TDIU due to additional development.