COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected asthma. Other conditions are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for asbestosis. The Veteran served in the Navy and claims exposure to asbestos, which may have caused his COPD and asbestosis.

The Board denied service connection for asbestosis due to a lack of evidence showing current asbestosis and the absence of an etiological link.,Service connection is remanded for COPD, with a need for clarification on whether the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during active duty.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as COPD, CHF, and cirrhosis. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of CAD at the time of his death, which is not service-connected due to lack of evidence. DM was also noted but deemed not contributing to death. The Board concluded that there is no competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 27, 2007 for the award of service connection for asbestosis. The Veteran's claim was pending since his last final denial in June 2006 and he filed a new claim on that date.

The Veteran's son, S.M., is granted status as a dependent with the Appellant’s award of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits based on his status as the helpless child of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, left knee condition, right eye retinal burn residuals, left eye retinal burn residuals, and bronchial asthma due to in-service exposure. The issues are now pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), lung disability (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema), and prostate disability is granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. However, the claims are denied as there is no evidence of record linking these disabilities to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, asthma, COPD, and right leg torn ACL are remanded due to the need for further examination and medical opinion.,The Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for left shoulder injury and depression are also remanded as new evidence may be relevant.,VA is required to provide an examination or obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's COPD, as his previous evaluation was from August 2016 and he reported worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD. The case will be reviewed again with a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Parkinson's Disease, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, COPD, heart condition, back injury, and bipolar disorder. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, SSA records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability, specifically whether it is related to service exposure or not.

The Board has decided that service connection for asthma is granted. Service connection for COPD is remanded due to insufficient reasoning in the July 2008 private medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition due to asbestos exposure, finding that there is no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and concluding that his current lung conditions are more likely caused by smoking tobacco.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sciatica, and respiratory disabilities (COPD and emphysema), as well as a ruptured spleen. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, enlarged heart, and hypertension as they are not related to the Veteran's active duty service or his service-connected folliculitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability prior to September 12, 2014 was denied as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevented all forms of substantially gainful employment.