COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's COPD is found to be service connected, while his pleural plaques are not shown to cause any symptoms and are rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death. The case will be remanded for an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected amputation of ring finger and lung disability, as well as an assessment of his need for aid and attendance or housebound status relevant to special monthly pension.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a lung condition other than pleural calcifications, including COPD and emphysema. The evidence does not establish a medical nexus between any current lung conditions and in-service exposure or symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma and COPD are not related to service, including as a result of herbicide exposure. The claim for glaucoma is remanded for additional development.

The Board granted the reduction of the Veteran's coronary artery disease rating from 60% to 30%, effective February 1, 2013. The Veteran was previously rated at 60%. Service connection for a lung disability (COPD) and skin disability were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if an extraschedular TDIU rating under 38 C.F.R. � 4.16(b) is warranted due to his service-connected chronic bronchitis variant of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension, GERD, prostate disability (benign prostatic hypertrophy), and lung disability (COPD) were not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board denied these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected conditions, including those presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure. The cause of death was determined to be cardiopulmonary failure due to non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and COPD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability, including lung cancer, COPD, silicosis, and fibrosis, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities as he does not have one disability of 60% or more and his combined disability rating is less than 70%. However, due to his other non-service connected conditions, including COPD, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, and diastolic dysfunction, the Veteran may be unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthma. The TDIU issue is remanded.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was found to have its onset during active duty service and is therefore granted service connection. The respiratory disability, including chronic bronchitis and COPD, was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran died from pneumonia with contributing factors of metastatic cancer and COPD. The Board found that a service-connected disability did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his COPD, asthma, hypertension, heart condition, and bilateral lower extremity edema.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraines, heart disability, arthritis, and respiratory disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's respiratory condition did not originate in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to active service. The Board denied the claims of service connection for a respiratory disability, cause of death, and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, is pending.