COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a challenge regarding the competency of the VA examiner who provided an opinion on the Veteran's COPD and pulmonary nodules. The Veteran's representative argued that the examiner lacked sufficient training and expertise, necessitating further investigation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea and asbestosis with COPD due to duty to assist errors, inadequate examinations, and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and emphysema, is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that the evidence submitted tends to disprove a link between his current condition and active service.

The Board denied the claim for TDIU prior to October 18, 2018 due to a lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the Veteran's claims for COPD and left shoulder disability, requiring remand to obtain VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding missing VA treatment records and verification of stressors. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and COPD are being examined again, while PTSD is being verified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, drug abuse, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The appeal for service connection of COPD is dismissed due to untimely filing.,Service connection for headaches, diabetes, GERD, and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Loss of Use of Both Feet with Sciatic and Femoral Nerve Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, have resulted in the permanent loss of use of both feet. The Board has determined that this meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's migraines and right lower leg radiculopathy to include paralysis of the external cutaneous nerve-thigh are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for COPD is dismissed due to a prior decision granting asthma (which includes COPD) in full.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU with a September 19, 2024 effective date based on his PTSD, emphysema, and COPD symptoms. His diabetes, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss were not found to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 19, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing (SAH) or special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to his respiratory disability, which is presumed by the PACT Act. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a permanent and total disability resulting in anatomical loss of use of both hands, burns, or residuals of an inhalational injury.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to August 29, 2022, for the grant of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits because the Appellant did not file a formal claim before this date. The criteria for the exception in 38 U.S.C. § 5101(a)(1)(B) were not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and COPD, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, and will consider all evidence of record in determining whether COPD is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from March 29, 2012, to April 23, 2025. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable rating for COPD prior to June 27, 2025.