COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issue of a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The left ankle sprain with peroneal tendonitis and right ankle sprain with peroneal tendonitis have both been granted initial ratings of 20 percent.,For COPD/emphysema and stage 3 lung cancer, the Veteran's claims are being remanded due to new evidence or further clarification.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD should be remanded due to a lack of an opinion on whether COPD is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will need to be reviewed again with additional medical evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for COPD and OSA as they were not timely filed.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for COPD must be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's COPD may be related to his period of service, including via his conceded Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA), or to another diagnosed disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between current conditions and service.,Service connection was also denied for vertigo as secondary to tinnitus. The Veteran's contention of hospitalizations during service for pneumonia was found to be unsupported by STRs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, COPD, migraines, a back disability, right and left upper extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, signet ring gastric carcinoma status post gastrectomy/cholecystectomy, and fibromyalgia have been dismissed. The claim for signet ring gastric carcinoma status post gastrectomy/cholecystectomy is remanded due to a need for updated toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memo and VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) and related respiratory disabilities have been granted, along with a TDIU based on his IBM.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for OSA should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and because of the need to obtain a medical opinion regarding the appellant's OSA, including whether it is related to his in-service toxic exposures.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions, as well as the retrieval of earlier VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

Service connection for OSA, colon cancer, and COPD has been granted.,The Veteran's headache disorder, hypertension (pulmonary hypertension), and service connection on any other basis are remanded.

The Veteran's COPD results in an FEV-1 of less than 55 percent, and the Board has granted a 60% rating for COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pulmonary disorders, including COPD and emphysema, due to a lack of sufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's active military service is considered in determining whether his current conditions are related.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, LLE neuropathy, and RLE neuropathy due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's COPD is not presumed or directly linked to his military service, including exposure to burn pits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his military service, including any exposure to toxic substances. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for COPD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions (asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and a heart condition) have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining claims of service connection for hypertension, kidney disease, COPD, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, vertigo, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his cause of death due to toxic exposures at Camp Lejeune, finding that while he was exposed to these chemicals during service, there is no evidence that they caused his COPD. The provider's opinions did not establish a causal link between the in-service exposure and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's death in February 1990 prevented the Appellant from receiving accrued benefits due to her not having a pending claim at that time and filing for accrued benefits more than one year after the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic bronchitis, and COPD is being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The VA will need to clarify whether the Veteran had a heart murmur upon separation from active service and address all relevant evidence of record.