COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service. The claims will be readjudicated after all development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD/emphysema is not related to service, including exposure to chemicals in the motor pool or cigarette smoking during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current condition began in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorders, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a respiratory disorder as a result of his military service, including owing to asbestos exposure. The acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD and associated depression, is found to be related to his service. However, there is insufficient evidence linking tunnel vision to his service.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.,The Veteran's asthma and COPD are denied as they are neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a fractured nose, and are not otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected right hand injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new medical evidence received after the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran is asked to provide names and addresses for all healthcare providers who have treated him, including VA records from Cleveland VAMC.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has restored service connection for COPD and asbestosis, effective July 1, 2015, and also restored entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35, effective July 1, 2015.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) is found to be due to his military service. The RO granted a rating of 60 percent for IHD effective July 27, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and bilateral hearing loss, but granted a noncompensable rating for his service-connected bilateral photophobia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory condition, diagnosed as COPD and emphysema, is not attributable to his military service. The preponderance of evidence indicates that his COPD is due to his extensive history of smoking rather than any in-service exposure to chemicals or from his bout of pneumonia while in basic training.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not currently have a respiratory disability and therefore denies her claim of entitlement to service connection for pneumonia, bronchitis, and COPD.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma. However, it has denied his claims for service connection for COPD and a respiratory disorder to include asthma and COPD.

The Veteran's bronchiectasis, COPD and recurrent pneumonia are found to be chronic conditions that had their onset in service and have continued since service. The Board affirms the grant of service connection for these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection due to lung cancer and COPD, finding that he did not meet eligibility criteria from June 9, 1994, when respiratory cancers were added as a presumptive Agent Orange disease. The earliest effective date assigned was September 9, 2004.

The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD is aggravated by her service-connected asthma and grants service connection for COPD on a secondary basis.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lung cancer residuals include COPD, and thus his claim for an increased rating is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for COPD, finding that his current condition is causally related to his military service.