COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as onychomycosis of the toenails and tinea pedis with possible bacterial infection, is related to service.,The Veteran has a history of COPD that began in service and is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The sinusitis issue has been withdrawn due to the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, which is currently in effect due to exposure to asbestos or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in active service. The claims for liver failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are also remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, and difficulty in understanding complex commands, has been rated at 70 percent since February 1, 2011. The effective date for the increased rating is set to February 1, 2011.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is presumed to have been caused by exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The remaining conditions are being remanded for further examination and determination of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and respiratory disability are related to his exposure to carbon tetrachloride during service. The Veteran's current disabilities have been granted as secondary to this exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability (COPD and chronic bronchitis) and a left knee disability. The effective date of the grant is not specified as it was determined that the Veteran's claims were pending since September 6, 2006.

The Board has determined that a higher initial rating of 60 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with COPD is warranted from July 21, 2011. Prior to this date, the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and hypertension, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is rated at 20 percent from February 21, 2007 to January 11, 2017, and at 40 percent thereafter. His peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerves was rated at 20 percent prior to April 10, 2010, and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new service treatment records being received and because the Veteran requested a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for emphysema/COPD, higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and a TDIU from May 12, 2008 to December 8, 2010.

The Veteran's COPD is not service-connected and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected asbestosis.,There is no evidence of a current liver or spleen disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the Veteran's submission of a September 2015 statement and an Informal Hearing Presentation. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis, and his COPD and emphysema are more likely due to tobacco use rather than service. As such, the claims for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and updated treatment records. The initial ratings for his depressive disorder with anxiety disorder and asthma with COPD are under review.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a lung disorder, including but not limited to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), due to trichloroethylene exposure. The preponderance of the evidence is against this claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, respiratory disability (COPD), and hiatal hernia. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability and respiratory disability are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agents.