COPD decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis to the hips, legs, and back, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with episodic chronic bronchitis and a skin condition as there was no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran's current conditions were related to his active service.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of frostbite of the hands and reopened claims for arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, lung disorder, and disability manifested by hypoglycemia. The claim for hypertension was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder as due to mustard gas exposure, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for an appropriate VA examination to determine the likely etiology of the veteran's chronic lung condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a therapeutic abortion and a respiratory disorder, claimed as emphysema and COPD, due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, as there was no competent medical evidence linking his causes of death to his service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and an increased evaluation for atopic dermatitis were remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and an extraschedular rating for TDIU was denied.

The veteran's current diminished respiratory capacity is primarily incidental to nonservice-connected causes, rather than his service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as there was no evidence of a resulting chronic, residual disability and the competent medical evidence did not indicate that his current COPD is the result of respiratory problems experienced during military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bronchitis, a skin disorder, emphysema, and asthma, to include as secondary to exposure to toxic gas, are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for renal cell cancer of the left kidney, cancer of the eye, nose, and head, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as they were not shown to be related to his military service, including asbestos exposure.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, glaucoma, exogenous obesity, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia each claimed to be secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and an earlier effective date for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a heart disorder, a skin disorder, and an aneurysm were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between any asbestos exposure in service and the current respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. The claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for folliculitis was granted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death as neither COPD nor hypertension was shown to be related to his service.

The veteran's chronic lung disease with pulmonary cyst is manifested by a pulmonary function test that showed FEV-1 between 40 and 55 percent predicted, FVC between 50 to 65 percent predicted, and FEV-1/FVC between 40-55. There is no cor pulmonale, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, episodes of acute respiratory failure, or the use of home oxygen.

The appellant's current bronchopulmonary pathology, including COPD, emphysema and asthmatic bronchitis, is the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service.