COPD decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD and pulmonary fibrosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification regarding the Veteran's mustard gas exposure during service. The claim will be reviewed again with this information.

The Veteran's death was caused by his underlying condition, COPD with spinal cord compression. The Appellant is seeking to establish service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death or benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a fall as a result of medications prescribed by VA treatment facilities.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death due to COPD and other conditions, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The claim was reopened based on new evidence (diabetes mellitus), but this alone is insufficient to establish service connection.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and pulmonary fibrosis on a direct basis, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Veteran's claims for COPD and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim for hepatitis was reopened, but the residuals of spinal meningitis claim remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected COPD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated during his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before the Board at his local VA Regional Office in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disorder, diagnosed as COPD and chronic pulmonary insufficiency, was not related to his service or exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence to support his claims or that his conditions were related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment. The appellant did not provide sufficient evidence to establish causation.

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

The Veteran's service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea have been granted, as these conditions are secondary to his service-connected recurrent pharyngitis and tonsillectomy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking the claimed conditions to his active duty service.

The Board found that COPD/asthma was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and is not proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected pneumoconiosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing proper notice of secondary service connection requirements.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service records and medical records, as well as scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA physician's opinion on whether the emergency was de-emed to have ended.