Question
IN OUR FRONT YARD WE HAVE A 20-25 YEAR OLD PAPER BIRCH. LAST YEAR I
NOTICED IT LOOKED A LITTLE SPARCE-SMALLER LEAVES AND 1-2 BRANCHES
THAT HAD DIED. THIS YEAR THERE ARE NO LEAVES AND I DO NOT REMEMBER
SEEING ANY BUDS. DO I CUT IT DOWN OR IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF IT MAKING
A COMEBACK?

Answer
Sounds like it is dead. Try scraping a small bit of bark off the end of an upper outer branch and if the color under the bark is not green the the branch is dead. Try other branches and if you can not find green under the bark the tree is dead. the twigs should also be flexible and not break when bent. Sorry but it sounds like the tree may have died.