COPD decisions — 2007

The veteran's current respiratory disabilities, including COPD, ARDS, emphysema, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and hypoxemia, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's COPD is found to be caused by his service-connected septal deformity, and the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The VA has determined that the veteran's COPD with history of asthma warrants a disability rating of 60 percent, effective January 29, 2003. The evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board denied service connection for COPD with bullous emphysema due to tobacco abuse, and the claim was not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, upper back disorder, osteoarthritis of the joints, skin disorder (presumptive due to herbicide exposure), and peripheral neuropathy (presumptive due to herbicide exposure). The pulmonary disorder was not shown in service or for many years thereafter.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and his claims for asbestosis, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, metastasized prostate cancer to the lung, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by a service-connected disability. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, finding that the veteran's current disability was not caused by exposure to aviation fuel fumes or mustard gas during his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, COPD, was not related to service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have COPD, emphysema, or bronchiectasis that is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and COPD. The diagnoses of PTSD, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and COPD were not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's respiratory disability did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation prior to December 11, 2000. Therefore, the effective date of the 100 percent rating cannot be earlier than December 11, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his alcohol abuse, which is secondary to service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the cause of the veteran's death is related to a disease that is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability and service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current pulmonary disorder related to his service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD) and related pulmonary conditions, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation of type II diabetes mellitus and service connection for a heart disorder and COPD have been dismissed due to the veteran withdrawing his appeal regarding these issues prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's current respiratory condition, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and whether it was caused by exposure to below freezing temperatures in service.

The Board denied service connection for nicotine dependence and lung disorder (to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema) as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty.,The veteran's claim was based on secondary service connection, but the Board found no basis to establish direct service connection either.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's COPD is related to service or herbicide exposure.