Service connection for COPD and OSA has been granted, along with the cause of death due to COPD.,Increased ratings have been granted for right lower extremity sciatica since September 30, 2013, and left lower extremity sciatica since that date.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion provided a clear link between the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, opioid pain medication, and asbestos exposure in service, which contributed to his COPD and OSA.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19106267
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims for urinary frequency disability and residuals of a cholecystectomy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder strain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and tendinitis, cervical spine spondylosis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar scoliosis and lumbar spine degenerative changes.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as it requires further development and evidence.
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