COPD Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for COPD and calcified pleural plaques, finding the evidence does not support a link to service or exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is due to his military service, specifically exposure to burn pits in Vietnam. The evidence is at least balanced and supports this finding.

The Board denied higher initial disability ratings for the service-connected lung disability from October 30, 2009, to March 28, 2011, and from March 28, 2011, to June 17, 2016. The Veteran's lung disability was rated at 10 percent for the first period and 30 percent for the second period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether COPD is related to service, particularly Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's in-service complaints and treatment for chest pain, bronchitis, and pleurisy are also being considered.

The Veteran's SMC at the statutory housebound rate is denied as his entitlement to a higher level of SMC has not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's COPD and its connection to service, specifically his exposure to herbicide agents and MOS exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was dismissed as the concurrent election of a higher-level review and an appeal to the Board led to confusion in the adjudication process.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD and interstitial lung disease, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for left foot disability, right foot disability, back disability, and COPD are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic cough, chronic sore throat, and COPD due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision. The Veteran's service records contain reports of cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including emphysema and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), due to errors in obtaining necessary evidence and developing the record.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder is not service-connected as it did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty.,There is no competent and credible evidence establishing that the Veteran currently suffers from a right leg impairment, other than radiculopathy, to include as secondary to a back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for their service-connected condition of status post thoracotomy has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for lung nodule and COPD due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to asbestos in Vietnam. The case will be returned to the RO for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bladder cancer, COPD, emphysema, and throat cancer are dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to in-service exposures, specifically burn pits, and grants service connection on a facts-found basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete authorization forms from the appellant regarding his medical records from the Florida Department of Corrections. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to the cause of death being attributed to ischemic bowel, respiratory failure, and kidney failure. Service connection for COPD as related to herbicide exposure is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos, herbicide agents, and other potential toxins during service. The claims for COPD, thrombocutaneous platelet disorder, GERD, and Barrett's esophagus are being reviewed on their merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, asthma, and chronic bronchitis due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence. The Veteran's symptoms are related to in-service exposure to burn pit smoke.