COPD decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected respiratory problems, and thus granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not service-connected, as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides or asbestos in service. The claim for service connection based on alleged asbestos exposure is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for reaction to serums/inoculations, lung condition due to asbestos exposure and/or Agent Orange exposure and/or 'stack gas' exposure, and hepatitis C were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's conditions do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is generally independent in self-care and activities of daily living. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not show that the Veteran meets the requirements for a special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to determine if the Veteran's death was causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an extension of the period of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services due to his ability to overcome employment handicaps and his current capabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including searching for service medical records and conducting a comprehensive medical examination to determine if the Veteran's respiratory condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and hypertension are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, verify exposure to asbestos or oil well fires in service, and schedule a VA examination if necessary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not proximately due to or the result of a disease or injury incurred in service, or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of the decedent's cause of death, but denied it due to lack of evidence that his death was caused by or related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to active service and is not shown by competent medical evidence to be etiologically related to service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, the claim for service connection for COPD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and COPD are not related to his active duty service, with the exception of a possible genetic component for hearing loss. The VA examiners found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other factors linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been found to warrant a total disability rating for the entire appeal period, due to its severe impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or continuity of symptoms since service, and the claimed conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and sinusitis due to incomplete medical evidence, requiring further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, left eye amblyopia, and COPD have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's COPD is currently rated at 10 percent, but the VA determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC values.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for COPD, a skin rash, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for fevers is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed fever disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for COPD/asthma as secondary to asbestos exposure, finding that there was no evidence linking his current breathing condition to service or any other factor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and left wrist disability, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.