COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination. The issues include service connection for various conditions, with no specific theory of service connection provided.

The Veteran's service-connected status post left upper lobectomy for lung cancer is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and pulmonary fibrosis are not related to his service, as evidenced by VA and private medical opinions. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's asbestos-related lung abnormalities of nodules and diaphragm changes are more likely than not attributable to service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition, but the rating assigned and effective date need to be determined based on further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected asbestosis. The Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal seeking increases in the staged ratings for his pulmonary disability has been withdrawn due to his intent to withdraw the appeal. The Board no longer has jurisdiction to consider this matter.

The Veteran's COPD with bronchitis and bronchiectasis has not more nearly approximated the criteria for a higher disability rating, and thus his appeal is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The Board also found that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's COPD is related to his asbestos exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by COPD, CAD, and dementia. The cause of service connection for these conditions is currently under review due to a lack of evidence linking them directly to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. The skin disability and COPD claims are remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes, COPD, and sleep disorder are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has awarded service connection for asbestos-related lung abnormalities of bilateral pleural plaque calcification. The issue of whether the Veteran's diagnosed COPD and/or emphysema are at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected asbestos-related changes of bilateral pleural plaque formation is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his respiratory, skin, and hypertension disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to, a disability incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the cause of the Veteran's death (end-stage renal disease and end-stage COPD) is related to active service.,The Board finds that prostate cancer and its residuals were incurred in active service as due to in-service ionizing radiation exposure. The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure caused his COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to a lack of VA examinations, and the Veteran's competency in handling disbursement of funds.

The Veteran's bowel obstruction and COPD are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service, specifically his presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed coronary artery disease and COPD are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions. The evidence does not show a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disability, including upper respiratory infection, mycobacterium avium-intracellular infection, sleep apnea, COPD, and pneumonia. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or any incident during service.