COPD decisions — 2011

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for purposes of accrued benefits.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence indicating that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's bronchitis and COPD were incurred in service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in her favor.

The Veteran's death is being remanded for further development, and the claim of clear and unmistakable error in the rating decision by the RO in October 2006 is also being remanded.

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 Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD and follicular bronchiolitis, is not service connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his Vietnam-era service or presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for COPD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining 2007 pulmonary function test results and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and his attempt to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bronchial asthma was also denied. The evidence received since the previous denial is not considered new and material.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is not warranted and dismisses the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the lack of evidence establishing a link between her claimed conditions and active duty or any related periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that it was not related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected asbestos-related pleural disease with fibrosis.

The VA determined that there is no evidence linking the appellant's current left lung disability, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary embolism, to his military service. The Board found that these conditions are not related to or caused by any in-service event or injury.

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

The Board denied service connection for COPD and hernia, finding no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and insufficient medical evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not manifested during his period of active military service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, including asbestos exposure. Therefore, service connection for COPD is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of newly submitted private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and affording the Veteran another opportunity to submit evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's exposure to mustard gas during service, which may be relevant to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, claimed as due to exposure to asbestos, was denied because there is no competent or credible evidence that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for COPD. The case must be remanded to determine whether the Veteran was exposed to trichloroethylene in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA clinical records and clarify her intent regarding the issues on appeal. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.