COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lung disabilities, specifically COPD and asbestosis. The VA must provide a new opinion addressing whether the Veteran's preexisting asthma was aggravated by service and whether his diagnosis of COPD during the appeal period is related to service exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if COPD is related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The examiner will also consider the Veteran's contentions about smoke grenades and their toxicity during his service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal seeking service connection for COPD as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied his claim for accrued benefits. The Board found that there was no evidence linking any of the conditions listed on the death certificate to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's depression, allergic rhinitis, and fibrocystic breast disease are not service-connected.,The Veteran's lower respiratory disorder (COPD, asthma, bronchitis) and menstrual disability (amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea) require further examination to determine their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, asthma, COPD, and hypertension as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or due to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance due to resultant helplessness, which has been established by medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic respiratory illness during service and attributing the current condition to his long history of smoking. The Board also found no nexus between Gulf War exposure and the Veteran's COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical dysplasia, depressive disorder (not otherwise specified), COPD, and Hepatitis C due to additional development of her records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis/pleural plaques and COPD has been reopened, but the appeal is still pending due to further evidence needed. The Board has ordered additional medical records and an addendum opinion from a pulmonary specialist.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection and increased evaluations, as well as the issue of TDIU. The Veteran's representative raised a new issue of entitlement to a TDIU in December 2018.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for blood clot to the lungs and breathing problems related to asbestos exposure should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation as of June 1, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD has been granted. Service connection for COPD was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for COPD and PTSD have been dismissed because he withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and COPD, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam. The decision is based on presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, to his service in Vietnam. The Veteran was exposed to toxic fumes while serving as a rocket crewman and from other incidents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including somatic symptoms disorder, and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for cracked ribs has been denied as there is no evidence of rib removal or resection without regeneration.,Service connection for lung conditions (COPD and Bronchiectasis) and back condition (Cracked Vertebra and Degenerative Joint Disease) are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Cold injury residuals of bilateral feet, hands, and face have been remanded as there is insufficient evidence on file to determine if they are related to service.