COPD decisions — 2006

The veteran is seeking service connection for bronchial asthma and COPD, which he claims are related to his exposure to chemicals during active duty. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema are not related to his active service, including asbestos exposure. The Board also found that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected asbestosis.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic respiratory disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his service, and therefore denied both direct and secondary service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's chronic respiratory disorder, including asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD, is related to his in-service pneumonia. However, there is no evidence of other residuals from the April 1957 episode of pneumonia.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed COPD, cardiac disorders (including coronary artery disease and mitral valve replacement), and hypertension are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and granted effective dates for service connection for PTSD and TDIU, but found that COPD was not caused by or related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for clarification on whether the veteran's respiratory disorder is related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, laryngitis, and actinic and seborrheic keratoses (claimed as dead skin) are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The veteran's arthritis of the hips, hands, and knees is also denied.,The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, asthma/emphysema, sleep apnea, and prostate condition are denied as they are barred by law due to the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1103.

The Board denied the request to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current COPD is related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his Hodgkin's disease with COPD due to mediastinal post radiation fibrosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for COPD, and service connection for asbestosis. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic pulmonary disorder was not related to his service and denied his claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bronchial asthma and COPD, currently evaluated at 30 percent. The evidence showed frequent attacks but no severe impairment warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection for COPD and atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to asbestos or other hazards leading to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hemorrhoids, and left leg disability. The claim for service connection for an asbestos-related disability (COPD) was denied as there is no evidence of exposure to asbestos in service or a relationship between COPD and service. Service connection for aggravation of flat feet was also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of causation and no proximate cause attributable to VA care, treatment or examination. The claim is therefore denied.

The veteran seeks reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred in January 2004 related to his COPD exacerbation. The case is being remanded for further development and adjudication.