COPD Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was not exposed to tactical herbicide agents, thus denying his claim for service connection.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's lung disorder is not related to service, specifically his asbestos exposure during military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and pleural plaques are related to in-service asbestos exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent for COPD with bronchiectasis, so no higher initial rating can be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's breathing disorder was not manifested during active service or within the first year after separation from service and it is not attributed to service.

The Veteran's current lung disability, diagnosed as COPD with emphysema, is found to be related to his service and granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to June 20, 2009 and requesting a supplemental opinion from the June 2014 examiner regarding the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorder and sleep apnea.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability, diagnosed as COPD and bronchitis, is not related to his service or exposure to herbicides. The claim for secondary service connection for headaches and syncope to bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, hip, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to service due to acoustic trauma. The respiratory disorder (COPD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's COPD and emphysema are related to in-service asbestos exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions. The issue of an initial disability rating for bilateral pleural plaques is deferred until a rating decision on COPD and emphysema is issued.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to her death before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to his COPD hospitalizations. The Board will review the case and determine if a new effective date can be assigned based on these records.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development due to failure to substantially comply with previous instructions.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed Systemic Sclerosis and Interstitial Lung Disease are related to his active service, including asbestos exposure. The claim for secondary COPD is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is aggravated by his service-connected malaria. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 8, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.