COPD Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for COPD and emphysema, which are presumptively covered conditions due to exposure to toxic risk activities in Southwest Asia. The claim for a lung nodule was denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent evaluation for left knee meniscus, effective April 21, 2025, and an additional 20 percent rating was also granted.

The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 60 percent for bronchial asthma based on the evidence showing that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but denied service connection for a right ankle disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, a compensable rating for renal insufficiency as a residual of rhabdomyolysis, and other claims.

The Board remands the case to obtain a more thorough medical opinion regarding the Veteran's COPD/emphysema and its relationship to her service, including any connection to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for asthma and COPD, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for COPD, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 30 percent for asthma with COPD prior to October 30, 2024, but the claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board denied service connection for interstitial pulmonary fibrosis but granted an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for chronic asthma.

The Board denied service connection for abnormal heart chest pains, bronchitis, COPD, pleuritis, and sarcoidosis as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis. The Board also denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Board granted an increased (Level 2) stipend in the PCAFC for the Veteran's caregiver due to the need for continuous supervision and protection based on the Veteran's medical conditions.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder, but no higher.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease on a presumptive basis due to the Veteran's service in Vietnam. The appeal of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and emphysema, was remanded.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss based on the evidence not supporting a relationship between the conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The appeals for service connection and higher initial rating were dismissed due to concurrent election of review options.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as none of the listed causes were related to his period of active duty or presumed exposure to herbicides.

The appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is dismissed due to the Veteran's death and lack of a substitute.

The Board granted service connection for COPD under the PACT Act and remanded the claim for further development regarding other potential bases for service connection.