COPD decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a respiratory disease, including COPD, due to lack of new and material evidence.

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

The cause of the Veteran's death was not related to any service-connected condition or a disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current lung disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD and emphysema, due to exposure to mustard gas during basic training.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection and disability rating will be further evaluated after the hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's lung disabilities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthmatic bronchitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence regarding the relationship between his current sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, spontaneous pneumothorax, COPD, and bronchitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have asthma or COPD related to his military service and therefore denied these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the appellant's claims for service connection, including consideration of potential Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus), a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), sleep apnea (secondary to depression or PTSD), and COPD (secondary to diabetes mellitus). The decision also declined to reopen the claim for tinnitus.

The Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including emphysema and COPD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no basis for a favorable disposition of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The Board found that the immediate cause of death was myocardial infarction, but ruled out a causal link between his service-connected bilateral nephrolithiasis and his renal failure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is not due to exposure to asbestos in service, nor is such disability otherwise related to his military service. The Veteran has been granted a new and material issue of reopening his claim for asbestosis but does not have evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypercholesterolemia, duodenitis gastritis, umbilical hernia, congestive heart failure, psoriasis, and COPD as there was no in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a child of the Veteran for purposes of receiving VA benefits due to lack of evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis or COPD, and there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have been incurred during service and is related to exposure to traumatic events in service. Service connection for PTSD has been granted.