COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to PTSD.,Service connection for the respiratory disability (emphysema and COPD) due to service-connected asbestosis is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hip arthritis is denied, with no evidence of onset during or within one year after service.,Sleep apnea is remanded for a determination on whether it is caused by or aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of STRs and need for additional medical opinions based on new evidence.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between COPD and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for COPD due to inadequate examination and lack of supporting rationale.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD and related conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, qualifying for special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease disability has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition, to include the residuals of a collapsed lung. The Veteran was not found to have any current respiratory disability that is related to her active military service.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for blood clots. There is no evidence in the record showing that she has had a blood clot-related disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a pulmonary disability, TBI, and migraines associated with TBI residuals due to insufficient evidence of current symptomatology. The Veteran will need updated treatment records and a more current VA examination.

The Veteran's lung disability (COPD, asbestosis, chronic bronchitis) is granted service connection. The Veteran's sinus disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition, finding that there is no evidence linking his current conditions to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms are considered credible but not competent medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, due to in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran served on ships within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's asthma, asbestosis, COPD, and sleep apnea are service-connected due to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current asthma and any in-service exposure or events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The decision also includes remand items for further review and evidence collection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected COPD, and also found that asbestos exposure during service may have contributed to his COPD. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome was improper, and her 30 percent rating is restored. The appeals for reopening claims related to vision problems, hypertension, COPD, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for COPD associated with service-connected spontaneous pneumothorax was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 9, 2018 and since then, his combined schedular rating is 40 percent, which does not meet the requirements for TDIU on a schedular basis. The issue of entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 9, 2018 was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease with essential hypertension and bronchial asthma, COPD, and obstructive sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, neck/cervical spine disorder, respiratory disorder (including bronchitis and COPD), and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions. The Veteran's active duty was not in a period of war that would qualify him for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.