COPD decisions — 2005

The VA determined that the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of asbestos exposure or asbestosis. The medical records did not support a finding that his current conditions originated in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and increased rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a rectal mass as secondary to radiation exposure due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or at separation and no medical opinion linking current COPD to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current COPD and PTB are not related to his period of active service. Service connection is granted for changes in the lungs consistent with asbestos exposure, but denied for other respiratory disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current COPD did not begin during service and is not related to any incident of service. The claim for service connection for COPD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing between October 16 and May 15, 2005.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and his recognized service did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA death pension benefits.

The veteran's nicotine dependence, COPD, and arrhythmia are all found to be service-connected.

The Board has vacated its previous decision and remanded the case for further development of evidence related to service connection for asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the claim was not timely filed and thus the effective date is set as January 16, 1996.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and he was granted service connection for undiagnosed illnesses manifested by chronic fatigue and generalized arthralgias. The initial evaluations assigned for these conditions are also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is not related to his military service.

The veteran's cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest due to COPD and a CVA. The service-connected ASHD is presumed to have been incurred during service, contributing substantially to the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for asbestosis was granted.,An effective date of September 20, 2002 was assigned for the grant of service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with bronchitis, emphysema, and cor pulmonale with congestive heart failure.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and COPD, concluding that there was no current diagnosis of asbestosis and insufficient medical evidence linking COPD to service.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the veteran's service-connected epilepsy and/or nicotine dependency caused or contributed to his death from heart and pulmonary diseases.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to COPD, attributing it to nicotine dependence. The Board also found that PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to the veteran's death.

The veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault during his last admission to the VAMC. The cause of death was due to myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.