COPD Board decisions

The Board denied the request to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board dismissed the claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and gout due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's lung cancer and service-connected COPD have been granted. The rating for COPD has been increased to 60 percent.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 15, 2014 for a total disability rating for his service-connected asthma. The decision acknowledges the factually ascertainable increase in the Veteran's asthma on that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD, chronic respiratory insufficiency, and asthma, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current disabilities and his military service or exposure to asbestos or herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, and a left eyelid disability (blepharitis) due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide additional opinions regarding causation and aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory condition, specifically asthma and COPD. The VA is required to obtain a new examination to address the alternate theories of entitlement put forth by the Veteran and in-service treatment for lung problems.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his diagnosed respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and thus the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied. The appellant's claim for burial benefits is also denied as there was no evidence of service-connected disability at the time of death.

The Veteran's COPD is service connected, but the claim for service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange, asbestos, and/or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune remains pending.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for COPD and atrial fibrillation, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service. The Veteran's COPD was diagnosed over 40 years after discharge, and his atrial fibrillation was not related to herbicide exposure or any other presumptive condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include atrial fibrillation, COPD, GERD, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection and rating issues related to the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, high cholesterol, hypertension, GERD, diabetes mellitus type II, rhinitis (claimed as allergies), and obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date of service connection remains March 18, 2011.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that none of the service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The examiner concluded that IHD was not present and did not contribute to COPD.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for COPD and also denied his request for a higher level of special monthly compensation. The Veteran was granted aid and attendance benefits, but he requested a higher rate based on additional health problems.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and COPD, finding that there was no current disability or in-service disease/injury related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left hip disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.,Regarding the breathing disability (including a nasal disability, sinus disability, and COPD), the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the condition and service. However, it granted secondary service connection for sleep apnea due to PTSD, finding that the Veteran's PTSD likely aggravated his pre-existing sleep apnea.,The Board also granted secondary service connection for GERD, attributing its onset or exacerbation to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to aid and attendance as a surviving spouse, finding that December 21, 2018 is the earliest date entitlement arose due to the submission of new and material evidence linking the Veteran’s death to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's cause of death, COPD, was not related to service or exposure to herbicides. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and denied nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's bilateral knee condition and COPD are not service-connected.,The Veteran's right inguinal scar s/p repair requires further evaluation.