COPD Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service, including post-service treatment records showing no diagnosed disability.,Service connection for left knee disability is also denied as there are no in-service complaints or diagnoses and no continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including as related to in-service asbestos exposure and/or service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, has not been shown to be causally related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his COPD and emphysema.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not related to his military service, specifically his in-service exposure to asbestos. The VA medical opinion provided a clear and reasoned analysis supporting this conclusion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of in-service injury, disease or event to which either disorder could plausibly be related.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and SSA disability benefits file. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this is completed.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 31, 2011, for the grant of service connection for COPD was denied as it is not permissible due to a final disallowance in September 2009.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's skin condition has been evaluated as noncompensable since December 2014 and 30 percent from February 3, 2015. The VA examinations have not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at 30 percent effective August 16, 2010. The VA examinations have not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis and COPD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, left arm disability, and restoration of his TBI rating. The Veteran's MDD and COPD ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding his respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to non-military occupational and recreational noise exposure, rather than service. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Court has ordered that this issue be remanded to the Board for further development.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations and determine the full extent of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, bilateral upper extremity orthopedic disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lung disorders (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and emphysema), and posttraumatic stress disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or related to active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's adenocarcinoma and respiratory disorder did not have a direct link to service, including asbestos exposure. The preexisting conditions were determined to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including COPD, hypertension, sickle cell anemia, and a psychiatric disorder. The appeal includes issues related to these conditions.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension. She contends that her condition began during active duty due to stress from basic training.,The Veteran claims service connection for sickle cell anemia. She asserts that the condition was present at birth but worsened by military service, particularly smoking and marching with a thumb extended during basic training.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, dyslexia (claimed as inaptitude), and schizoid disorder. She contends these conditions are related to her sickle cell trait and stress from active duty.,The Veteran claims service connection for residuals of stroke, which she attributes to her sickle cell trait and hypertension.,She seeks service connection for a left knee disability, alleging injury during basic training while using a floor buffer. She also contends that marching with a thumb extended caused damage to her right thumb.,She requests service connection for a lumbar spine disability, attributing it to injuries sustained in service while using a floor cleaner and marching with a thumb extended.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a right thumb condition, alleging injury during basic training.

The Board has granted service connection for carcinoma of the pharynx, neck, and hypopharynx due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service. COPD was not found to be related to service or any other condition.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence of service in Vietnam and thus no presumptive exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The Veteran's throat cancer is not considered a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the evaluation for COPD from 60 percent to 0 percent, effective December 1, 2015 was improper and is void ab initio.