COPD Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not service connected, as it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) and there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and a respiratory disorder, to include bronchitis and COPD are denied as there is no competent evidence linking any current disability to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his COPD, specifically addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that his COPD was caused or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records to determine if he was exposed to asbestos in service and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature, extent, and etiology of any respiratory disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to his service-connected asbestosis and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and whether COPD had its clinical onset during active service or is related to any incident of service disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a pulmonary disorder, finding that there is no evidence of such disorders in service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is related to his active service, specifically exposure to substances from firing tanks during his service in Korea. As such, the claim for service connection for COPD is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA or private treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD, skin cancer, and myasthenia gravis.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for COPD was withdrawn. The skin disorder claim is remanded to obtain deck logs and missing STRs, and to provide a VA examination.

The Veteran is granted a 60 percent evaluation for COPD prior to May 9, 2013.,An earlier effective date of September 19, 2002, for service-connected COPD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically addressing Agent Orange exposure and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence was presented to reopen the claim. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service noise exposure is considered credible.,Regarding COPD, the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's time in service or his exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess his respiratory conditions, and determining the etiology of any diabetes mellitus. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. The claim for COPD was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD is not related to his service, and thus denied service connection for a respiratory disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, now claimed as COPD. The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for respiratory conditions, including COPD and emphysema, as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis. He also seeks a TDIU rating. The claims are being remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate and whether there are any new or material pieces of evidence for his service connection claims. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran contends that his current respiratory disorders, including asthma and COPD, are due to exposure to burn pits, depleted uranium, and other toxic substances during service in Iraq. The Board finds the VA examination inadequate for adjudication purposes and remands the case for a new examination and medical opinion.