COPD decisions — 2006

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of COPD and determined that new evidence supports a finding that COPD is related to his inservice pneumonia, thus granting service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current COPD to disease or injury in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The lung cancer, COPD, and pneumonia were not first manifest during service or within one year of separation.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to dementia, which was not established as a direct result of service. The appellant's new evidence does not establish a nexus between any of the listed conditions causing death and service.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a connection between the veteran's COPD and emphysema and his claimed asbestos exposure during service, and denied the claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection due to COPD.

The Board found that the veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected conditions, including COPD and pulmonary fibrosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) with respect to the veteran's service connection claim for heart disease, new and material evidence claim for PTSD, and increased rating claim for chronic inactive pulmonary histoplasmosis with COPD.

The Board has denied service connection for a thyroid disorder and COPD, but granted service connection for hepatitis C. The veteran's thyroid disorder is not linked to active service or a service-connected condition. Hepatitis C was likely incurred during active military service due to exposure to the virus. COPD is not related to active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and COPD. The claim for service connection for a back disability was denied due to lack of evidence linking current back disability to service, while the issue of service connection for COPD was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not incurred in active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The medical evidence did not support a connection between any current conditions and service.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss beginning September 30, 2002. The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary/lung disease, low blood sugar, and chronic atrial fibrillation were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Service connection was also denied for a nervous disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to determine if the veteran's current respiratory, sleep apnea, and pedal edema/hypertension conditions are related to his asbestos exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current conditions, including pulmonary tuberculosis and its residuals, are related to his service. The claim is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found no evidence of current disability for the right shoulder disorder, COPD, arthritis of the hands, and arthritis of the right knee. The veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claims.

The veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is unrelated to disease or injury in service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board is remanding the case to gather additional medical records and determine if the veteran's conditions are related to service, particularly his rheumatic fever during active duty.