COPD Board decisions

Your appeal has been dismissed because you withdrew your request for service connection for COPD due to asbestos exposure.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, Type II, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and a pulmonary disability. The issues regarding service connection for these conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence on exposure and potential secondary relationships.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which may be related to service-connected conditions or herbicide exposure. The issue of service connection for COPD is also on appeal.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to chronic ethanolism, with COPD contributing but not causing the death. The Board found no evidence linking any service-connected disability or exposure to asbestos to the cause of death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied service connection claims for COPD, asthma, and residuals of pneumonia. The claim is now considered on its merits, and the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding service connection for a respiratory disorder, including whether any current diagnoses are related to the Veteran's heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for residuals of lung cancer, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is granted. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residual scar from cyst removal on the left side of neck is denied. The effective date for service connection for residuals of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is set at April 12, 2011. The effective date for service connection for residual scar from cyst removal on the left side of neck is also set at April 12, 2011.

Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease. The cases of COPD, bladder cancer, TDIU, and the cause of death are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and his sensorineural hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's COPD, hypertensive heart disease, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including memory disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety), and erectile dysfunction are all remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for an eating disorder. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disability and COPD. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding a direct or presumptive link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding both direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's benign pleural plaquing is being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting medical evidence regarding its impact on his lung function.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service treatment records and VA/SSA medical records. The claims include entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including a low back disability, right leg disability, bilateral foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD), respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD is granted. The claims for service connection for COPD and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions on etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether COPD is related to herbicide exposure during service.

The appeal for COPD is dismissed. The case for type II diabetes mellitus, which was reopened due to new evidence, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for COPD and sleep apnea. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, while his COPD and sleep apnea are not shown to be related to active service.

The Veteran's lung disability (to include bronchiectasis, COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis) is remanded for further development due to the need for a medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.