COPD decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's COPD is not related to his service or asbestos exposure, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a deviated nasal septum, including a bone spur in the nose.,Service connection was denied for COPD as there is insufficient evidence linking the veteran's lung condition to his military service or exposure to asbestos.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder in service and concluding that his current condition is more likely caused by prior tobacco use.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for COPD, leaving only the psychiatric disorder issue to be decided.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD or cognitive impairment, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not incurred in service and denied both his claim for service connection and his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations for his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the cause of death, congestive heart failure due to COPD, was not attributable to service or a service-connected disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his pulmonary tuberculosis, far advanced, inactive with COPD and bronchitis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence linking his death to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD as secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis with deviated nasal septum, and has also granted a rating in excess of the current 30 percent evaluation for chronic sinusitis.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a back disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and stroke due to withdrawal by the veteran. Service connection for COPD is denied.

The veteran's respiratory disability, which includes bronchial asthma leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bullous disease with hyperinflation of the lungs and fattening of the diaphragm, results in marked interference with employment. The Board has found that this warrants a 60 percent disability rating on an extraschedular basis.

The veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest and COPD, with the immediate cause being cardiopulmonary arrest. The Board found that these conditions were not service-connected.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that COPD, a condition secondary to nicotine dependence in service, was not the principal or contributory cause of death. The decision also noted that the appellant filed her claim after the June 9, 1998 change in law which bars claims based on tobacco use during service.

The veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, any service-connected disability. The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and esophageal cancer as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is not related to service, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death from cardiopulmonary arrest and COPD.