COPD Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure in service. Service connection for emphysema and COPD is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including COPD and bronchitis, were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides. The VA examiner found the conditions more likely due to his smoking history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, small cell lung cancer, and leukoplakia of the true vocal cords were denied as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, previously characterized as COPD, is reopened. The appeal is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of his current respiratory disorders.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, including as secondary to PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including COPD, Paget's Disease, metabolic disorders, hypertension, gastric ulcer, and right thyroid nodule/goiter, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to additional substantive development being required.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 15, 2014 for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board found that the correct date of service connection for tinnitus was September 15, 2014.,Service connection for high blood pressure is denied as there is no evidence showing it had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding private and VA treatment records being needed.

The claims of service connection for COPD, skin cancer, a right hip disorder, post-operative residuals of an adrenal gland tumor, and prostate cancer are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's service treatment records show upper respiratory infections and chest pain in service. A VA examination is required to determine whether his COPD is related to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied because there is no evidence of current hearing loss in this ear.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to respiratory failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which the Board found not related to his military service or herbicide exposure. The service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially to his death.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is denied.,Service connection for COPD is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service, including exposure to Agent Orange.,An acquired psychiatric disorder (likely to include PTSD and Depression) is not service-connected as there is insufficient evidence connecting current symptoms to military service.,Thrombosis, poor circulation, and edema are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, throat cancer, and a skin condition due to Agent Orange exposure. The appeals were not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disability, specifically COPD and asbestosis, should be remanded for further evaluation. Additionally, the heart disability needs to be evaluated again due to its worsening over time. The TDIU and DEA effective date claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, post abdominal aneurysm, and kidney disease stage III were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any of the diseases associated with herbicide exposure.

The appeal pertaining to the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for low back disability is dismissed. The Veteran's currently diagnosed COPD and asthma are granted as service-connected due to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. A 100% rating for COPD/Asthma from August 15, 2012 onward is granted. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left arm disability, right arm condition, bilateral hearing loss, chronic otitis media (claimed as ear condition), tinnitus, and COPD are all denied.,Service connection is not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's COPD with asthma was rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on his current symptoms.