COPD Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's COPD and its relationship to his service-connected spontaneous pneumothorax.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and inconsistencies in the Veteran's medical records. The Veteran is not considered credible regarding his exposure to tear gas during service, and a new VA respiratory examination is needed to assess whether his COPD began in service or is otherwise related to his period of service.

The Board has found that further development is necessary to determine the nature and extent of the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service, as well as his exposures to other chemicals/solvents. The COPD claim will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cardiac disability and cause of death are related to his service. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The claim is denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran had ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease, which are not shown prior to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of a rating in excess of 30 percent for COPD and entitlement to TDIU due to additional development being needed. The Veteran's COPD is expected to be evaluated again, and his claim for TDIU will also be considered.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. It also denied increased ratings for COPD, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and residuals of a thoracic spine fracture.

The Veteran's lung cancer, including lung cancer with COPD, is service-connected for accrued benefits purposes. The cause of the Veteran's death was metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, which is also service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase rating on his right ankle fracture with degenerative changes was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, and respiratory disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining National Guard service treatment and personnel records, verifying duty status, and determining if the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during his National Guard service. If exposure is confirmed, a VA clinician will be asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the cause of death (cardiac exhaustion due to complications of COPD, asbestosis, and coronary artery disease) was caused by exposure to asbestos.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. The decision found that there was no in-service exposure to herbicide agents, no current diagnoses of these conditions, and insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in disability more nearly approximating occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and impaired impulse control. An initial rating of 70 percent since June 11, 2014 for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's current right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed gall bladder disorder.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection was granted.

The Veteran's allergies are considered to be related to his service-connected alopecia areata.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service connected.

The Veteran's hearing loss and IHD are granted service connection, while COPD and NHL are denied. The Board also found that the evidence is in equipoise for service connection of hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for a lung disability and low back disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also remanded due to insufficient medical records. Service connection for esophageal cancer and skin condition were also remanded.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. His cardiovascular disorder and lung conditions are denied. The Board has ordered additional examinations for COPD, a lung disorder other than COPD (claimed as granuloma), malignant skin neoplasm (claimed as melanoma), essential tremor, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for COPD and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records regarding his COPD, including outpatient oxygen therapy and evaluation. A VA examination is also needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected COPD.

Your initial increased rating for obstructive sleep apnea with COPD has been granted and is now at its maximum (100%) since October 1, 2015. The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.