COPD Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and pulmonary artery hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to her in-service exposure to airborne environmental hazards.

The veteran's spouse is not eligible for nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum allowable limit.

Service connection for a right rotator cuff tear, tonsillitis, asbestosis, asthma (claimed as lung condition), emphysema, and COPD is denied.,Nonservice-connected pension benefits are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD is not related to his military service.

The application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied.,Service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted.,Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied.,Service connection for COPD is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,Service connection for a libido condition, to include erectile dysfunction, is denied.,Service connection for a disability manifested by insomnia is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension is remanded due to missed VA examinations and the possibility of homelessness. The RO must follow procedures for contacting homeless veterans and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and reopening of his claims for low back disability, bronchitis, and obesity. The other conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal or denial.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD, to include as due to exposure to asbestos is granted. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to ongoing verification efforts regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand, which may be related to his COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to inadequate examination and failure to address aggravation. The case is returned for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including inpatient records from Baumholder Army Health Clinic and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a lung disability and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, both claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for various conditions, including tendonitis and COPD, due to herbicide exposure. The VA will need to obtain a supplemental medical opinion to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's presumed exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, PTSD, SFW left groin, thigh, penis, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, resulted in functional impairment that precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment for the period from December 19, 2011 to June 5, 2016. A TDIU rating was granted during this period.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as COPD and other conditions were ruled out. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s heart disability to his service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied due to lack of in-service evidence. The claim has been reopened, and the new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Service connection is granted for PTSD but denied for spinal demyelination and CIDP.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as coronary artery disease, due to hypertension and COPD. The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD and cause of death due to COPD. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of COPD and the cause of death.