COPD decisions — 2006

The Board finds that the veteran's COPD is at least as likely as not caused by his exposure to asbestos during service, and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic respiratory disabilities, nose and sinus disorders, cervical and lumbar spine disorders, skin disability, and major depressive disorder. The evidence did not establish a direct link to service or an undiagnosed illness due to service in the Gulf War.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service caused his COPD and asbestosis, which contributed to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's current lung disorder, bullous emphysema and COPD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including any exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam.

The veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and residuals of coccidioidomycosis was denied. The RO granted service connection in January 2003, but did not grant a rating higher than 10 percent before February 18, 2005, or a rating higher than 30 percent from that date.

The veteran's lung cancer, status post left upper segmenectomy, emphysema and COPD were not incurred during service or related to active duty service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's Multiple Sclerosis, COPD, Infertility, and Visual Defect were not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The Board also noted that the veteran's COPD was diagnosed many years after service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in their decision.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's COPD to his military service and denied both his claims for service connection. The dental condition claim was not addressed as it is unclear whether it was related to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and entitlement to accrued benefits due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected depressive neurosis with anxiety materially contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory symptomatology is not related to his service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, and thus denied an increased evaluation for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, GERD, and COPD as these conditions are not shown to be due to any event or incident of his period of active service.

The VA's provision of an Atrovent inhaler containing a fluorocarbon element caused the veteran to develop nasal polyps and exacerbate his COPD, but the Board found that this was not due to VA fault.

The veteran's application for RH insurance was denied because he did not meet the 'good health' criteria, as his nonservice-connected conditions exceeded the allowed threshold.

The Board finds that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to any service-connected disability, and thus denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his claim for accrued benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board also determined that VA medical treatment provided in March 2001 did not result in any additional disability or hasten the veteran's death.

The Board granted a 100% disability rating for service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with bullous emphysema effective March 8, 2003.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic lung disorder, attributing it to his history of smoking rather than any exposure during military service or due to ionizing radiation.

The Board found that the cause of death, COPD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied the claim for service connection.