COPD decisions — 2008

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for additional development due to procedural errors and missing evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted by the appellant, and the claim for service connection for COPD, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and hypertensive vascular disease will be reconsidered.

The Board denied the application to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death because the additional evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The veteran was not rated totally disabling for any service-connected disability for a continuous period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dysplasia/colon polyps and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, both of which are presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting new examinations to assess his COPD with asthma, heart condition, and personality change.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed peripheral neuropathy and COPD are not related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and readjudication due to new evidence received, as well as issues related to service connection and TDIU.

The Board found that there was no evidence to support the claim that the veteran's ASHD or COPD were caused by exposure to extreme climate conditions during service. The medical opinions provided did not support a connection between the veteran's in-service conditions and his later development of ASHD and/or COPD.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and there was no evidence of radiation exposure in service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The medical evidence showed no relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his causes of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a 'breathing disorder' and residuals of radiation exposure, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to tobacco abuse, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by a service-connected disability. The appeal is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for infectious hepatitis and pulmonary disorders, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service or that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for additional information about the veteran's health.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for asbestosis, resulting in a denial of the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss, hypertension, and COPD were not incurred or aggravated by service. The gaps in time between discharge from active duty and the onset of these conditions made it unlikely they are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current COPD and obesity-related dyspnea are not related to his service, specifically the right pleural effusion he experienced in 1973. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and development were inadequate, and thus remands the case for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is related to service, but his COPD is not related to service or exposure to herbicides and asbestos.