COPD decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's death was caused by COPD, which may be related to his service-connected welding exposure. The appellant has met the requirements for accrued benefits as her claim for DIC was pending at the time of her husband's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's current asthma/COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by his period of active military service, including presumed herbicide exposure, and is not otherwise proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability, including as due to herbicide exposure, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic pulmonary condition during or immediately after service and concluded that the current disability was not incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). The issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure, other than pleural plaque, remains under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, pemphigus foliaceus, and PTSD, finding no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection for arthritis of the hands, arms, legs, and shoulders, water blisters on the hands and feet, loose teeth and calcium knots on the inside of the jaw, injury to the chest, injury to the face with steering wheel fragments, and status post fusion of the cervical spine at C5-6 with osteoarthritis to the left arm. The claims for service connection for COPD/emphysema and knee injuries are reopened.

The Veteran's asbestos-related calcified plaque disease of the lungs with COPD was manifested by pre-bronchodilator FVC, FEV-1 and DLCO values within the range for a 10 percent evaluation. The most recent VA examination in July 2012 showed post-bronchodilator FVC at 111% predicted, FEV-1 at 104% predicted, FEV-1/FVC ratio of 72%, and DLCO at 84%. These values do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, finding that the Veteran's exposure to fumes and chemicals during his service in the Persian Gulf likely accelerated the onset of his respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination. The claims of service connection will be adjudicated after these steps are completed.

The Board is remanding the case to allow for a Travel Board hearing and to address the issues of reopening the claim for COPD and entitlement to service connection for basal cell cancer of the lip.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or any incident thereof.

The Board found that the original diagnosis of asbestos-related pulmonary disability on which the award of service connection for COPD with emphysema was based was clearly erroneous, and thus severed the award.

The Veteran's benign prostatic hypertrophy, COPD, and arthritis/osteoporosis were not shown to be related to service or any in-service exposure.,There is no medical evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not caused by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current respiratory disability, including asbestosis. The Board also determined that any current arthritis is not causally related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that COPD and emphysema did not develop due to his military service or exposure to herbicides, nor was cardiomegaly related to his pulmonary disability. Regarding the MRSA claim, there is no evidence showing it resulted from a VA colonoscopy.

The Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and reactive airway disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to Agent Orange or fuel vapors. The claim was denied.