COPD Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for COPD and chronic bronchitis, finding no evidence of asbestos exposure or herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's current respiratory conditions are attributed to smoking.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory/lung disorder, finding that his lung and respiratory disorders were more likely due to smoking rather than herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and hypertension, finding no evidence of onset or etiology in service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for cause of death due to COPD and respiratory failure, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and leg disabilities, as well as COPD secondary to asthma, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran is also having his increased rating claim for asthma remanded.,The Board has determined that further development is needed before these issues can be decided.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). The claim of service connection for a lung disorder other than COPD is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's COPD and his active duty service, specifically exposure to burning feces and combat-related fires. The Board also needs to assess whether the COPD is related to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, a rating in excess of 10 percent for a skin disability, DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current respiratory condition and his military service or asbestos exposure. The Board also remanded cases regarding left and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of recent VA examination records.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory/pulmonary disorder, including COPD and asthma, due to exposure to chemicals during active duty.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection decisions related to COPD, CHF, and MDD. The claims were granted based on the date of receipt of the applications.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for pleural plaques, but denied his claim for service connection for a lung disease other than pleural plaques including COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for further examination. The issues of service connection for COPD and kidney disability are not within jurisdiction as they have not been perfected by the Veteran.

The Veteran's death was caused by lung cancer, with COPD and tobacco use contributing to the cause. Service connection for the cause of death is denied as there is no evidence linking the conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for COPD due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if COPD is related to service exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lung disability (to include COPD), sleep disability, and restless leg syndrome due to incomplete verification of the appellant's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denials for service connection for a respiratory disorder and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for a respiratory disorder including pneumonia and COPD. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is considered to be due to in-service noise exposure, while the evidence does not support a finding of a current disability of pneumonia or COPD.

The Veteran's lung cancer and related conditions have been rated at 100% since the date of surgery, but his disability has improved over time. The Board finds that a reduction in rating is warranted as his current lung function tests do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of diagnosed respiratory/pulmonary disorders, including COPD and other conditions. The Veteran's service connection claim is pending.