COPD Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's skin disorder and pulmonary disorder (COPD and emphysema) are found to be related to his military service. The Veteran's hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back condition and pulmonary disorder, including bronchitis and COPD, are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran claims service connection for COPD, but the VA cannot locate his service treatment records from Adak, Alaska. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for COPD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and vertigo. This includes obtaining missing service treatment records, reviewing deck logs from the USS Guam, scheduling VA examinations, and ensuring all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for COPD and foot fungus, effective before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's pancreatic cyst, liver cyst, renal cyst, left knee disorder, and initial higher disability rating for COPD. The COPD issue was granted with a 30 percent disability rating effective March 13, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an independent medical opinion regarding whether asbestos exposure could have caused the Veteran's emphysema, which may be related to his death.

The Veteran's claims for a respiratory disorder and short term memory loss have been denied as there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's asbestos lung disease has not resulted in the required criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. His disability remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's fibrosis due to asbestos exposure is rated at 30 percent, effective from December 22, 2011. The Veteran's COPD is not service-connected and does not affect his rating for fibrosis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for pulmonary asbestosis is granted. The claim for a respiratory disorder other than pulmonary asbestosis is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current COPD and emphysema did not manifest during active service, and are not otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability. The weight of the evidence showed that his acquired psychiatric disorders manifested years after his active service and were not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service treatment records and seek an unbiased medical opinion regarding the Veteran's heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance and at the housebound rate is denied as her need for aid and attendance is due to nonservice-connected disabilities, not service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service and whether his COPD is related to asbestos exposure. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, specifically COPD. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to fumes, dust, and chemicals during service which likely contributed to his current diagnosis of COPD.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and emphysema, attributing the Veteran's lung disability to his own tobacco use rather than exposure to herbicide agents or other in-service events.

The Veteran's additional respiratory disability is not deemed to be caused by VA medical care, and thus he does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.