COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus (secondary to non-service-connected bilateral hearing loss), COPD, and heart disorders are all under review.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and COPD, finding that the conditions are related to exposure to fumes during military service.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's lung disease claim due to exposure to asbestos in service.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory condition, including bronchitis and COPD, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service.,The Board also denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that the Veteran's CAD was not caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded four issues: bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, COPD, and adenoid cystic carcinoma. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate some respiratory symptoms during service, but the claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining inpatient hospital records from Fort Jackson Army Hospital.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lung disability is related to his service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents. An addendum medical opinion is required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the restoration of a 10 percent rating for COPD, and thus the issue is dismissed.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that COPD was not related to active service or herbicide exposure and PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The issues include reopening his diabetes mellitus claim, service connection for diabetic neuropathy, and service connection for sleep apnea with COPD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD; and ratings in excess of 10 percent for history of lumbar strain with sacralization at L-5 with L4-5 disc space narrowing, arthralgia of the right shoulder, arthralgia of the left shoulder, arthralgia of the right wrist, and bilateral elbow arthralgia. The Veteran was exposed to a chemical fire during service, which may be related to his current respiratory disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD. The remand requires obtaining information about hazardous chemicals the Veteran may have been exposed to during active service and providing legible copies of his service personnel records. A medical opinion is also needed regarding the nature and etiology of his respiratory condition.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD and lung cancer.,Service connection was also denied for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted service connection, but diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was established due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus was also granted as it is related to the Veteran's current hearing loss.

The Veteran's pleural plaques due to asbestos exposure are rated at 100% effective April 10, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran required oxygen therapy for his service-connected lung disability in addition to his nonservice-connected COPD.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and review, including service connection claims and an earlier effective date claim. The Veteran's appeal includes multiple service connection claims and one related to the effective date of additional compensation based on having a dependent spouse.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of permanent and total disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for lung disease, finding that there is no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to link any diagnosed condition to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's disabilities were permanently aggravated by his service-connected right leg deep vein thrombosis and left leg deep vein thrombosis. Additional examinations are needed.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been dismissed. His claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent from January 23, 2012 to June 10, 2013 for COPD have both been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, finding that the conditions are related to active service.