COPD decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the RO/AMC for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for medical opinions regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement for unauthorized private medical expenses incurred from February 13, 2007 through February 17, 2007 due to emergency care provided at a non-VA facility. VA facilities were not feasibly available when the Veteran's symptoms began.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to or hastened his death, and to address any alternate theories of entitlement.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no clear diagnosis or treatment for prostate cancer in the record and concluding that the Veteran did not die from a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and treatment records from medical providers.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and COPD. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including emphysema, COPD, and asthma, are not related to military service or asbestos exposure.

The Board has found that the medical evidence does not preponderate against the appellant's claim to DIC benefits, and thus the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 have been met.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various respiratory conditions and related disabilities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and provide the Veteran with a comprehensive examination regarding his claimed asthma.

The Board has denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for COPD, finding that no new and material evidence was received since the September 2003 denial.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the claims of service connection for COPD and coronary artery disease. The additional evidence received is not new and material.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required, including obtaining service treatment records and personnel records for periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The Veteran's claims will be remanded to consider all new evidence received.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD with emphysema, finding that his condition was more likely related to smoking than to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sacroidosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is being remanded due to a need to review his military service personnel records and consider 10 U.S.C. § 1218.