COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the upper radicular group of the left upper extremity has been granted a noncompensable rating effective August 26, 2010. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for this condition.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the superficial peroneal nerve of the left upper extremity was granted a noncompensable rating effective August 26, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma with COPD prior to November 12, 2015 has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are rated at a noncompensable level, but the Board found that his symptoms warrant an increased rating to 30 percent effective from August 10, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for CAD are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung cancer and COPD were caused by his service-connected PTSD, which led to his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which were presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's death was caused by multisystem organ failure, acute myelogenous leukemia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Board finds that the conditions leading to his death are not related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anterior communicating aneurysm and COPD. The examiner will need to determine if there are any neurologic symptoms associated with the aneurysm and whether COPD is causally related to service due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for jungle rot of the bilateral feet was withdrawn by the Veteran.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for tinea cruris of the groin, which is now granted. The condition had its onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his COPD, including exposure during service.

The Veteran's lung disability, currently diagnosed as COPD, did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to active service, including exposure to herbicides.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's COPD is more likely due to his long-term smoking history than to his in-service herbicide exposure, and thus denied service connection for COPD as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is aggravated by his service-connected interstitial lung disease, and thus grants service connection for COPD. The claim seeking an increased initial rating for interstitial lung disease will be remanded to allow for readjudication in light of this decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD. However, the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is alleged to have contributed to his failure to thrive, cardiovascular conditions, and ultimately his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA examination. The issues include reopening her diabetes mellitus claim, seeking service connection for COPD, back disability, hiatal hernia, and one side of her body being smaller than the other.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including trigeminal neuralgia, cranial nerve pain, headaches, ruptured testicle, muscle fasciculations, chronic lymphoid hyperplasia, stomach disorder, and COPD, were not shown to be related to service or any incident therein. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as COPD with emphysema, was not caused or aggravated by service exposure to herbicides or environmental hazards. The disease first manifested after service and is considered a direct result of the Veteran's smoking habit.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues seeking service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic skin disease. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her respiratory disability.