COPD decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for COPD and asbestosis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the motion for revision of an April 29, 2002 decision that assigned an effective date of March 22, 1996 for a grant of service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and pleural thickening due to asbestos exposure.

The Board found that chronic respiratory disease, including tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and emphysema, was not incurred or aggravated in wartime service. Active tuberculosis may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to verify service as a Navy Seal and presence in Vietnam, clarify nicotine dependence claim, obtain medical records, and ensure all notification and development action required by the VCAA has been completed.

The veteran's claims for increased diabetes, COPD, and chloracne were denied as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The VA found no evidence linking these conditions to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical evidence linking the in-service gunshot injury residuals and the cause(s) of death. The appellant needs to provide information for VA to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and hypertension, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus and related conditions, including COPD, glaucoma, obesity, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding the veteran's exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and Peripheral Vascular Disease based on secondary to tobacco use or exposure are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person was granted, with a rating assigned at the housebound rate.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and chronic bronchial asthma, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The VA has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, based on a DLCO (63% predicted).

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was not caused or contributed by his service-connected disability nor any disability presumptively associated with being a prisoner of war. The RO is instructed to attempt to secure VA treatment records from Tampa and provide the appellant with an opportunity to respond.

The veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are denied as the evidence does not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for asbestosis and COPD, which he claims are related to his in-service asbestos exposure. The VA has ordered further development of the evidence before deciding this appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema and COPD due to nicotine dependence or tobacco use in service, finding that these conditions were not related to his active service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his COPD-bronchial asthma to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA medical opinion regarding service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, attributing it to coronary thrombosis. The effective date is set at June 11, 1982, based on new and material evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory disorder, including emphysema, asthma, and COPD, had its onset during his period of active service. The claim for service connection is granted.