COPD — all decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding no evidence of its onset during or immediately after service and concluding that it is not related to herbicide exposure. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking COPD to any other in-service event.

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 a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for COPD, which is based on toxic exposure during military service.

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 decided to remand the claims of service connection for chronic cough, chronic sore throat, and COPD due to inadequate medical opinions in the October 2021 VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered by the AOJ with a new opinion based on full review of the record.

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

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 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 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 toxic substances during service. The claims for COPD, thrombocutaneous platelet disorder, GERD, and Barrett's esophagus are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis/COPD is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA TERA medical opinion did not address the issue of burn pit exposure and the synergistic combined effect of all TERAs.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion. The claims of increased rating for diabetes mellitus type 2 and compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The reasons are that the VA examinations were inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

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.