COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, is related to his service exposure to asbestos.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the claims for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for COPD, gastro hyperplastic polyposis, and anemia have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied, but his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened and granted.,His bilateral hearing loss claim was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's COPD, lung nodules, and calcified pleural plaques are directly related to service. The VA needs to obtain an addendum from a clinician.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the current diagnosis is not related to in-service asbestos exposure and instead likely due to post-service smoking and obesity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory conditions and a right knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence to support the assertion that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of chronic respiratory disorder, including COPD, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his in-service exposure and noting that smoking is a known risk factor for COPD.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected COPD, CAD, and CHF. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and bilateral leg disorder may be related to service, but further examination is needed to confirm this. The case is therefore being remanded for additional evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, irritable bowel syndrome, cholelithiasis, small intestine disability, and pancreas disability as the evidence did not support a link to military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD and a heart condition need further examination and evaluation. The COPD claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset during service, while the heart condition claim requires an additional medical opinion considering the Veteran's service treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, but has remanded the issues of service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, carotid arterial disease, left hand disability, right hand disability, and neuropathy of the lower extremities as due to herbicide exposure. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left true vocal cord paralysis with dysphonia and globus sensation has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his COPD, left and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and his military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by service-connected disabilities, and therefore his cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD and remanded it due to outstanding VA and private medical records. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that his current diagnosis is less likely related to service exposure and more likely due to long-term tobacco use. The appeal was not about a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, fibrous dysplasia of bone, and a disability manifested by shortness of breath are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's cause of death, including cardiac arrest and acute respiratory failure, are related to his active duty service, specifically his exposure to asbestos. The appeal is REMANDED for further review.

The Veteran's COPD is being remanded because the VA examiner did not address whether it was aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer. The case will be reviewed again with a new examination or addendum to determine if COPD was aggravated by the lung cancer.