COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not proximately due to, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by, his service-connected COPD.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, CHF, emphysema, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, and mood disorder (also claimed as borderline intellectual functioning) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or symptoms. The COPD claim is denied due to lack of in-service herbicide exposure.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran’s current COPD to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, Emphysema, Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (claimed as secondary to emphysema and COPD), Acid Reflux, and Erectile Dysfunction due to unresolved issues regarding service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is linked to his peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his respiratory disorders (asbestosis and COPD), all secondary to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for granulomas prior to November 21, 2017 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date forward. The Board found that the Veteran’s current pulmonary functioning is primarily due to his nonservice-connected COPD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of COPD, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for emphysema, COPD, and coronary artery disease have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any exposure during service.,Specifically, the VA examinations did not find a relationship between the Veteran’s current diagnoses and his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and prostate cancer are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his diagnosed conditions and in-service exposures.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a prostate condition is denied.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for an eye disability and a respiratory disorder, to include COPD, are remanded.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to his active duty service, and therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied. The Veteran did not have qualifying service for non-service-connected death pension benefits, so entitlement to this benefit is also denied. Accrued benefits are not granted as there were no pending claims at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD or due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD is granted, as the evidence shows that his current condition can be attributed to exposure to herbicide agents and smoke/fumes from burning vegetation in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, gastro hyperplastic polyposis, and anemia due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to determine if his conditions are related to this exposure.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an upper respiratory disorder was denied due to lack of causation by VA, and his claims for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound were also denied.

The Veteran is seeking reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his private hospitalization at OSU Wexler Medical Center from July 9th-10th of 2013. The VA denied the claim, stating that VA facilities were feasibly available and the Veteran requested transfer to a private facility. The Board finds additional development is required.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no credible evidence showing a chronic respiratory or cardiopulmonary condition in service and that the Veteran's fatal heart and/or respiratory conditions were not caused by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and COPD. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is being remanded due to new evidence suggesting a possible link between COPD and military service. The VA will obtain relevant medical records and conduct an examination to determine if COPD was related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism, dementia, and COPD were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Accrued benefits for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance were also denied due to lack of a qualifying disability.