COPD Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his military service, but more development is needed to verify potential asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 10, 2011 for a 100% rating for recurrent bronchitis with COPD was denied as the earliest factually ascertainable date that he was entitled to this higher disability rating is subsequent to March 10, 2011.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for residuals of left wrist fracture, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and lung disorder have been granted. The petitions to reopen the remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound were denied as he did not meet the requirements for either benefit.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, prostate cancer, and essential tremors are all remanded for further examination and opinion.,Prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for a new and material evidence review. Essential tremors have been referred back for an addendum opinion addressing whether it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, including as due to asbestos exposure, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that his current COPD was caused by active duty service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed asthma and COPD are related to in-service exposure to environmental contaminants.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for COPD and an enlarged prostate, so the Board has dismissed these claims.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 are remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including a copy of the police report and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's lung disorder (COPD) is not service connected as it was not caused by his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of COPD and asbestosis for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected Major Depressive Disorder substantially contributed to his death from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and the Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee condition as secondary to residuals, fracture or calcis right foot.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD related to asbestos exposure and Coronary Artery Disease as secondary to COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, bilateral leg disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, schizoaffective disorder, and sleep apnea. Additional records are needed to support these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for asthma, COPD, emphysema, and sleep apnea. The left knee disability claim is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for cholesterol, increased SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, increase in disability rating for chronic renal insufficiency with hypertension, separate compensable rating for hypertension, and initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral cataracts are all remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to recognition as J.S. (the Veteran's adult child) as the helpless child on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart condition, hypertension, and COPD due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The AOJ is required to obtain additional records from Detroit VAMC and Dr. Boren, as well as a new opinion on whether any heart condition meets the criteria for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and if it is etiologically related to service, including herbicide agent exposure. An etiological opinion regarding hypertension is also needed. The AOJ must issue a SOC for the claim of service connection for COPD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The petition to reopen service connection for COPD is granted.,Entitlement to an earlier effective date, prior to June 17, 2011, for PTSD is denied.