COPD decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for COPD, hypertension, and liver lesions as not related to the Veteran's military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected condition, including his varicose veins.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability at the time of his death. Therefore, the appellant does not meet the conditions for eligibility for survivors' and dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lung disorder, finding that there was no current disability and no competent medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct a VA examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's COPD with bronchiectasis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for mitochondrial myopathy and COPD were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against these claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the cause of the Veteran's death, including reviewing medical records from Compass Hospital of San Antonio and obtaining a new opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The issue of service connection for COPD is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD and right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed residuals of asbestos exposure are not related to his military service or any incident therein, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have COPD or any other respiratory disorder, and the Board finds that his claim for service connection for COPD due to asbestos exposure in service is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected traumatic encephalopathy with related mental impairment caused him to increase his smoking, which led to atherosclerotic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Board concluded that this contributed substantially or materially to cause his death.

The Board has found that the Veteran's residuals of a broken nose, diagnosed as a deviated nasal septum, were incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a lung contusion, other than bronchitis. The appeal is based on the Veteran's contention that his current respiratory conditions are related to his in-service lung contusion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and no asbestos exposure during his period of active service contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and asthma are not related to service exposure to asbestos, and his heart disease and hypertension are not related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is not due to service or any presumptive exposure. The claims for depression, foot disorder, and stomach disorder are also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's bronchitis, COPD, and asthma are all found to be related to service. The Board has determined that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

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