COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disability. The Veteran is also not entitled to new and material evidence for his OSA claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea to include as secondary to PTSD, but denied all other claims due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The tinnitus rating remains at 10%.

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

The Veteran's bipolar disorder is granted a 100% rating, and service connection for various conditions including pulmonary disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral upper extremity nerve disorder, bilateral hip/thigh disorder, and bilateral foot disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was not found to be severe enough to require regular aid and attendance or render him permanently housebound, as his need for assistance was attributed to non-service connected disabilities. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability has been granted. Her claims for right knee, COPD, heart arrhythmia, and kidney conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tendinitis of the bilateral arms and left leg/calf, as well as his claim for service connection for COPD, were granted. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected COPD contributed to his death, but needs further clarification from a pulmonologist.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for COPD, OSA, and DM due to inadequate examinations conducted without full understanding of the Veteran's exposure to asbestos. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it relies on the disposition of these service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for tongue cancer, COPD, asthma, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sarcoidosis, cervical spine disorder, and various other conditions have been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as his conditions were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, but has remanded it for additional development to obtain medical records and determine if her current respiratory disorders are related to her in-service treatment or exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan.

Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and migraine headaches is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, prostate disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder), and respiratory disorders (including asbestosis and COPD) have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for COPD, sleep apnea secondary to CAD, hypertension secondary to CAD, bilateral hearing loss, and CAD are being remanded due to the Veteran requesting to participate in VA’s test program RAMP. The case will be returned to VBA for a RAMP rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to COPD and related conditions, as well as denial of special monthly compensation for a surviving spouse by reason of being housebound or based on the need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for emphysema/COPD. The Veteran's current COPD/emphysema is being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, headaches, COPD, hypertension, bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder are all denied as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness, nor is there sufficient evidence to establish their relationship to service-connected PTSD.