COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause an impairment in his ability to obtain, maintain, or retain suitable employment. The Board found that the Veteran did not have an employment handicap and was therefore not entitled to VR&E services.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions. The COPD claim is being reviewed again as it may be related to service, despite a 2016 diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of asthma, emphysema, and COPD for further examination and medical opinions due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for COPD due to new evidence received, and requires a toxic exposure related activities (TERA) examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that there was no in-service injury or incident related to the lungs or breathing, and his COPD is not linked to service. His bilateral hearing loss did not warrant an increased rating beyond 90 percent. His hemorrhoids were rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to underlying influenza type A, with contributing causes being chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The VA medical opinions found no direct nexus between the Veteran's COPD, CLL, or ARDS and toxic exposures other than herbicide agents during active duty service.

The Veteran's emphysema with COPD was granted service connection and an initial rating of 60 percent, effective April 29, 2019. The current rating remains at 60 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for service connection of COPD, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death and DIC claim. The AOJ is required to obtain new VA medical opinions addressing whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death, as well as any negligence in reducing his pain medication.

The Board has restored service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis, finding that the original grant of service connection was not clearly erroneous.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding the appellant's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations for COPD. The case is now pending for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in development and lack of a VA etiological opinion. The Veteran's COPD claim will be reconsidered with additional evidence obtained.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the claims of skin cancers, migraines, sinusitis, and COPD has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted due to the PACT Act presumption of exposure. Service connection for COPD is remanded as there was no VA examination prior to the April 2022 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate evaluations of the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and COPD with OSA.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include asbestosis and COPD, is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, back disability, pulmonary granulomas, sleep apnea, COPD, Crohn's disease, headaches, heart disability, seizure disorder, myoclonic jerk disorder, and rhinitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examinations and a need for additional testing, specifically a high resolution CT scan.

The appeal for service connection for a respiratory issue, to include shortness of breath and pulmonary fibrosis was dismissed due to an error in docketing the VA Form 10182.