COPD decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by chronic lung disease, which existed during his active service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board finds that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability or one for which benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that COPD did not result from military service and was not caused by any disease or injury incurred in service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The veteran's death was caused by his service-connected COPD, which is not considered a direct result of military service but rather due to the use of tobacco products he started using during his active duty.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death (adenocarcinoma of the colon and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) to service-connected conditions, thus denying the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 23, 1998, for service connection for COPD as due to asbestos exposure.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and lung cancer as due to asbestos exposure, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have COPD as a result of his active military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection for bilateral defective hearing is granted, as his current hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure. The issue of service connection for chronic respiratory disabilities including COPD and emphysema, alleged as secondary to asbestos exposure, remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and there is no evidence linking his causes of death (COPD, pneumonia, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure) to any service-connected disorder or directly to service.

The veteran's service-connected lobectomy, upper right, residuals of coccidioidomycosis, aggravated his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the Board has granted secondary service connection for COPD. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and an anxiety disorder with headaches. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board found that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and prostate cancer were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred during service due to exposure to herbicides. The veteran's allegations of Agent Orange exposure were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current lung problems are not related to his active service, and thus cannot be granted service connection. The right shoulder disability and psychiatric disorder claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since June 1995, but the Board found no causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lower right posterior chest disability with chronic respiratory infections and cervical spine disability, including headaches and arm numbness, are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), is not related to his service or exposure to herbicide agents. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that his current respiratory problems are not related to his active service or any incident therein.