COPD Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions provided by VA examiners regarding service connection for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety).

The Board has denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and remanded the issues of bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD with emphysema, finding that his current condition is related to his in-service exposure to diesel fumes. The appeal was not about a presumption or reopening based on new evidence.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for COPD and right knee disability, but denied service connection for both conditions. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (reopen COPD claim) and others were not (right knee disability).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disorders, asbestosis, and hearing loss. The decision also found that no increased disability ratings were warranted for his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right hip disorders, as well as a respiratory disorder. The VA will obtain medical records and schedule examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have led to a grant of a 70% rating for PTSD, effective from May 31, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records. The goal is to determine if there has been a significant reduction in lung functioning that warrants an increased disability rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, scars on the left hand, allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, heart condition, and GERD have been denied. The VA has ordered additional examinations to address these issues.,The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and active service.

The Veteran's lung disorder is granted as service connected, but the cause of his lung disorder remains unresolved due to lack of in-service exposure evidence.

The Veteran's SPE and COPD were denied service connection, while his IHD was granted a 30% rating. The Board found no evidence linking the disabilities to service or conceded exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's COPD and hypertension were denied as not related to service.,PTSD was remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his active service or any incidents therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his underlying claims for hypertension, eye disability, chronic fatigue, COPD (shortness of breath), nerve damage, heart disability, unspecified joint pain, and skin disability are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's COPD and sleep apnea are currently rated at 50 percent, but a new examination is needed to determine if the condition warrants an increase in rating.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disability, including asthma and COPD, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest in or were aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disability, including COPD, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's asbestosis and COPD are rated at the maximum disability rating of 100 percent under DC 6833, due to their combined effect on his pulmonary function tests.