COPD Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, asthma, bilateral hilar adenopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's asbestos lung disease with COPD, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect his disability.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran's pulmonary disorders are etiologically related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and bronchiectasis, finding that his in-service exposure to smoke and herbicides caused these conditions.

The Veteran's current pulmonary functioning is attributed to his nonservice-connected COPD, not his service-connected asbestosis. As a result, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability evaluation for asbestosis.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his conditions were not related to his military service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to ambiguity in the medical records and need for further clarification of diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bronchitis, and asthma. The decision concluded that these conditions are not related to his military service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist DJD, and hepatitis C are related to service. The right shoulder, right knee, left knee, low back, and respiratory disabilities are not shown to be related to service. Bilateral hearing loss is also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's right hand/wrist disability is not service-connected as it pre-existed his active duty and was not aggravated by service.,Fibromyalgia, respiratory disorder (COPD/Emphysema), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or due to service. OSA is also not service-connected as it pre-existed his active duty and was not aggravated by service.,Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is service-connected as it first manifested after the Veteran's second period of service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD or asbestosis, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his service, including exposure to asbestos. The opinion from the VA examiner indicated that the current respiratory disability did not originate in service and was more likely due to long-term smoking.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is related to his active service, while COPD is not. The skin cancer claim is granted, and the COPD claim is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD, claimed as due to asbestos exposure, was not present in-service and there is no competent evidence relating it to service or any other basis. Therefore, the claim of service connection for COPD, claimed as due to asbestos exposure, is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for persistent depressive disorder is granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective July 20, 2015. The Board finds that the Veteran suffers from frequent and severe symptoms of persistent depressive disorder, such as depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, and difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a worklike setting.

The Veteran died from cutaneous burn injuries, but his service connection for PTSD was denied at the time of death. The Board found that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between the cause of death and any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination to determine if his respiratory disorders were pre-existing or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder (COPD) and bilateral hand tremors, as well as his claim for an initial compensable rating for NHL prior to August 26, 2015. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for all claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to lack of evidence regarding exposure to chemical agents and a VA examination is needed.