COPD decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for allergies, initial ratings for COPD and arthritis of the thoracic spine, and an initial compensable evaluation for hand warts. The appeals were decided on the merits.

The Board found that the veteran's causes of death are not related to service or his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's COPD and skin disorders are not service connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.,Service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no combat experience reported by the veteran.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment on July 18, 2001 and August 23, 2001. The proximate cause of his death was a heart attack suffered on August 25, 2001.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and COPD, nummular eczema, herpes, and dermatitis (claimed as rashes).

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining service records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder (COPD and Bronchitis) has been reopened, with the Board finding that new and material evidence supports reopening of this claim. The Board also found that his current respiratory disorder is related to his active duty service.,Service connection was denied for conjunctivitis, right eye, as there is no clear evidence linking this condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant did not have valid military service for purposes of VA benefits and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute to his death from coronary artery disease, COPD, and renal failure. The DIC claim was also denied as the veteran was not rated as totally disabled for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, COPD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and did not materially contribute to his death.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lung disease, including COPD and emphysema, was denied as there is no evidence of a link between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's calcification of the hilar region of the lungs and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current pulmonary disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and his eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 of the U.S. Code is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for additional medical examination and evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for alcohol abuse/dependence and sexual dysfunction disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a respiratory disorder characterized as breathing trouble, diagnosed as asthma and bronchitis with COPD. The evidence now submitted supports this finding.

The VA determined that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA medical personnel during his hospitalization and treatment. The Board found no evidence supporting any such claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of response to a request for evidence.