COPD Board decisions

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension. However, it denied the claims for secondary service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, esophageal stricture, and dysphagia to his service-connected non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Veteran's COPD is remanded for a VA examination to determine its onset and relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and the relationship between his claimed conditions and such exposure. The Veteran is also referred for further examination on issues related to Peyronie’s disease, benign hypertrophy of the prostate, skin cancer, and a skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, particularly from private hospitals and VA facilities where the Veteran received treatment prior to his death. The appellant must provide information for obtaining these records.

The Veteran's left spontaneous pneumothorax is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that suggests a relationship between his current COPD and lung cancer diagnoses and his military service. The Board must now evaluate whether he should be granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's lung disorder, COPD, is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service lung-related illness or asbestos exposure that may be related to the condition.

The Veteran's depressive disorder was granted service connection. The appeals for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bladder control disability, sleep apnea, and the reopening of claims for neuropathy and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded.

The claim of service connection for COPD and asthma is granted. The issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD and asthma, is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD, bronchitis, and asthma, are granted. The Board also grants a TDIU due to these conditions, given the combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service or VA treatment, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current COPD may be related to his in-service pneumonia, but needs further clarification and evidence. The case is being sent back for a more detailed examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis and COPD, to include as secondary to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and sleep apnea (to include as secondary to COPD) need further clarification due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is being remanded to obtain new opinions from VA clinicians.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during active duty is etiologically related to his current respiratory disability.

The Veteran's COPD with OSA was granted a 60 percent rating from the date of service connection, December 11, 2012. The evidence did not show more severe respiratory symptomatology prior to November 19, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and an initial rating in excess of 30% for CAD, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as COPD, are denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for emphysema, COPD, and a skin condition due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, including his duty assignments and potential herbicide agent exposure. If confirmed, an opinion will be sought regarding whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, emphysema, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for COPD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 1, 2018, was reduced from 60% to 0%. The service connection claims for emphysema and COPD remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for neck disability, COPD, and hypertension. The claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.