COPD decisions — 2006

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, COPD, and residuals of a stroke as secondary to the veteran's service-connected anxiety.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorder, COPD, and hypertension are likely due to service-connected conditions or other factors not related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance of another person (A&A) due to his disabilities, including COPD, CAD with CABG, PVD, hypertension, arthritis, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not show that any disability rendered him so helpless as to require the regular A&A of another person.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for throat obstruction and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as rating decisions for various conditions. The case is pending further development.

The VA determined that the veteran's current COPD is not related to service, including exposure to asbestos or other potential causes. The Board concluded that the COPD is more likely due to the veteran's long-term cigarette smoking.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's liver cancer or respiratory disability to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The VA has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchial asthma, citing insufficient evidence to support such an increase based on the veteran's pulmonary function test results and medical history.

The veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure due to pneumonia, cirrhosis, and anemia. The service-connected bilateral cataracts are not considered the cause of death. No other conditions related to service or service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The veteran had a pending claim for service connection for COPD at the time of his death. The appellant was granted service connection for COPD for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and there is no evidence showing a relationship between any of his service-connected conditions and the cause of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, but denied service connection for PTSD and COPD related to smoking. The veteran's current respiratory issues are attributed to his military service for asthma, while the majority of his COPD is due to long-term smoking.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma and COPD, based on current symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected residuals of trench foot, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The issue of accrued benefits is also addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to timing issues in providing VCAA notice and additional medical opinions.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic right upper lobectomy residuals with COPD and thoracotomy residuals originated during active service, while her chronic hypertension was not shown to have originated in or proximate to active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for COPD with interstitial fibrosis due to asbestosis is being remanded for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining updated medical records and VA examinations to assess the veteran's COPD and TDIU rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected COPD and depression did not cause or contribute to his death, as there was no evidence of a causal connection between these conditions and his suicide.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD, but denied them on the merits. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not supported by new evidence related to the etiology of the condition. The claim for COPD was reopened due to a November 2004 VA examination report that is material to the etiology of the veteran's COPD.