COPD decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current respiratory disability and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss, and COPD were not found to be related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disease, including COPD and emphysema, was not incurred in or related to military service. The residuals of a broken third metatarsal of the right foot are also denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus between his diagnosed respiratory and pulmonary disabilities and his military service, including exposure to asbestos and diesel fumes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his period of active service, including exposure to asbestos. The evidence does not support a finding that the current lung condition resulted from in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for COPD, including as caused by cold weather exposure during his active duty in Korea. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a service-connected disability caused by asbestos exposure at the time of his death, and therefore, he would not have prevailed on his accrued benefits claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for COPD, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected ocular histoplosis syndrome. The Board has determined that the current medical evidence is insufficient to render a decision on this claim and has therefore remanded it for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on presumed exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam and a confirmed diagnosis of coronary artery disease, which is shown to have contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by his in-service asbestos exposure, and the case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's widow, Ms. C, requires regular aid and attendance due to her numerous disabilities, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiomegaly, atheromatous aorta, left atrial abnormality, persistent posterobasal forces, right corticomedullary area infarction, cerebrocerebellar atrophy, and osteoporosis. The Board granted special monthly pension benefits based on the need for aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service connected, with no specific rating assigned and no effective date provided.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evidence are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of his bilateral wrist condition, back disability, and lung disability. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service or other factors.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA respiratory examination to determine if the Veteran's current respiratory disorder, including COPD, is due to exposure to second hand smoke in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, hypertension, inguinal and cervical lymphadenopathy, residuals of an upper respiratory infection (COPD), and Guillian-Barre syndrome due to lack of direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asbestosis claimed as secondary to asbestos exposure during service. The case is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as his combined rating is only 60 percent, which does not satisfy the schedular requirements. The Board did not find sufficient evidence to grant TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions alone.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.