COPD Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot injury, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The appeal seeking service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and TDIU has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Board remanded the claims for service connection for lower back injury, COPD, and OSA due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty or qualifying periods of inactive duty training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is service-connected as it first manifested during his military service and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary eosinophilia with COPD, including a request for an updated examination and consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is currently manifested by FEV-1 of 56 to 70 percent predicted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, emphysema, and asthma due to a lack of evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions and his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's cause of death is not related to his military service, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, diagnosed as COPD, is granted service connection. The cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine conditions, hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and likely cause of any currently diagnosed respiratory condition, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and COPD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory conditions and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, claimed as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the VA examination report which did not address the Veteran's contentions and supporting evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension and hemorrhoids have been rated appropriately. The Board has found that the Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum allowable rating for his hemorrhoids.,The Veteran’s left ankle disability, hydrocele, recurrent kidney stones, sleep apnea, COPD, and PTSD are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD was increased to 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for COPD remains pending and is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional records, as well as clarification on the Veteran's exposure history.

The Veteran's pneumothorax disability was granted a 100 percent rating effective January 22, 2014. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for supraventricular arrhythmias and TDIU were dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD with obstructive sleep apnea. The case is remanded to determine if his conditions are related to active duty military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to asbestos exposure is being remanded because VA did not properly develop the evidence and provide an appropriate examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, tinnitus, COPD, and bilateral foot disorder (plantar fasciitis) have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Board is directed to further develop evidence related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for granulomatous disease, claimed as right-side lobectomy due to asbestos exposure is granted.,Service connection is denied for sleep apnea and the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, emphysema, interstitial lung disease, and asbestosis, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records related to the Veteran's cause of death and VA’s duty to assist in obtaining relevant private treatment records.

The claim of service connection for a respiratory condition, including COPD, is reopened and remanded. The claim of service connection for a lower back condition is also remanded.