COPD decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence of record.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic lung disorder related to his military service.

The Veteran seeks nonservice-connected pension benefits due to permanent and total disabilities. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration disability compensation records, and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of diabetes at the time of his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including pulmonary function tests. The Veteran seeks a higher disability rating for his lung condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected and denied his claim for an increased evaluation of COPD. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his COPD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding no competent evidence linking his current lung condition to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have any exposure to herbicides during his military service. As a result, the presumptions applicable to veterans who served in Vietnam are not applicable to this case.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from providers who treated the Veteran for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and that the causes of his death (respiratory arrest, COPD, pulmonary embolus, PTSD) were unrelated to his active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for lupus, residuals of lung disease to include COPD, and heart disease. The appellant's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no evidence relating these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD aggravated his coronary disease and congestive heart failure, which contributed to his death. The Board finds that PTSD was a contributory cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure due to COPD exacerbation and black lung, was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to accurately assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis and COPD, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's mild COPD is related to service exposure to fuel fumes, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's PTSD contributed to his death and whether any other psychiatric disorder was related to service. The claim will be remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, including his acne vulgaris. The appellant did not provide evidence showing a link between malaria and the Veteran's later-developed conditions.