COPD Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service exposure and his current diagnosis of COPD.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD is found to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, granting TDIU with the condition that it be reviewed by the RO for an effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded. The Veteran's claim for COPD is also being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent from June 1, 2016 for prostate cancer remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his COPD was caused by exposure to herbicide agents in service. The decision is based on the link between his COPD and his presumed exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for a VA examination with a pulmonologist.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for asbestosis and asthma are denied, but the claim of reopening the asthma claim is granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no causal relationship between his military service and his current diagnosis of COPD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory condition should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's right pleural plaques are rated at 100 percent under the primary service-connected condition of COPD, and a separate rating for right pleural plaques is not warranted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability (COPD, emphysema, ground glass nodules) due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and COPD, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his active duty service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for COPD.

The Board denied service connection for COPD with emphysema, finding that the Veteran's current respiratory disability did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and was not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including chronic bronchitis and COPD, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or a direct relationship to service. The current diagnosis of restrictive lung disease is not related to service either.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory, skin, and esophageal disabilities, finding that these conditions are not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other in-service injury, event, or disease.

The appeal for COPD, due to herbicide exposure, is dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's service records show exposure to herbicides, and he is diagnosed with arthritis, COPD, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of the current 10 percent for service-connected COPD, citing that the Veteran's FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC ratio did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6604.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and eye disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA examinations in September 2015 were inadequate, and additional records are needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to burn pits, asbestos, or jet engine exhaust during his military service.

Right and left hip osteoarthritis are granted as service-connected.,Avascular necrosis of the right and left hips is denied as not related to service.