COPD decisions — 2010

The Board found no evidence of asbestos or radiation exposure during service and concluded that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder is not related to service, including exposure to asbestos and herbicides. The evidence shows that his current condition is more likely due to heavy smoking.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected GSW of the right shoulder. The only competent medical opinion linked his COPD to smoking in service, and since his reopened claim for service connection was received after June 9, 1998, it cannot be considered service connected as it is attributable to tobacco use during service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis, and denied an initial compensable rating for asbestosis with pleural plaques.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for COPD, claimed as due to asbestos exposure. The case has been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD, rhinosinusitis, and a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma was incurred in active military service and granted service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, including asthma and COPD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emphysema is secondary to his service-connected COPD and nicotine dependence, but not his pulmonary fibrosis. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected COPD and nicotine dependence.,Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy cannot be established as it is related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a bilateral shoulder disability, neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The decision also addressed his claim for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and cervical spine arthritis, as well as his TDIU request.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including exposure to asbestos and combat stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disorder and skin disorders are not related to his military service, but granted service connection for the skin disorders as secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's splinting with breathing disability is rated at 100 percent, the highest rating available under VA guidelines.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing not being held and other procedural issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his military service and his post-service cardiovascular disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's current COPD and asthmatic bronchitis are not related to his military service, including exposure to chemicals. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that these conditions were caused by his long history of smoking.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, prostate disorder, diabetes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and stroke have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that there is no relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his cause of death from COPD. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any other service-connected condition contributed to or caused his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, hypertension, COPD, and emphysema, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions. The claim was not based on exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) due to the Veteran's lack of service in Vietnam.

The Board determined that the Veteran's cause of death, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), was not caused by a service-connected disability.