COPD decisions — 2012

The Veteran's cause of death was due to COPD and other conditions, but his service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is also denied.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of this claim due to missing VA treatment records and a need for VCAA notice. The case is REMANDED.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis and COPD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed respiratory disorder and there is no competent evidence relating any current condition to service, including possible asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's current lung disorders, including COPD and asbestosis, are not related to his service. The VA examiner found no compelling evidence of asbestos-related changes in the Veteran's chest x-rays or pulmonary function tests.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking any of the listed conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating for PTSD, tinnitus, or hearing loss. Service connection was not established for COPD, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, or degenerative changes in the right knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asbestosis is related to his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lung conditions, including scarring of the right lung base and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not support a connection between these conditions and events in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not service-connected and denied his claim for an initial (compensable) rating for residuals of lung cancer with lobectomy, history of bronchopleural fistula and pneumothorax. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lung disability is not service-connected, and his claim for 1151 compensation was denied due to lack of proximate cause attributable to VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including pulmonary function tests and a VA examination to address his service-connected asthma. His claim for TDIU is also being referred back to the RO.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, which was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to or as a consequence of pneumonia on his certificate of death, is not related to any service-connected disability. The June 2012 VA medical opinion concluded that PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current COPD and pneumonia are not related to his service, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his in-service pneumonia. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a respiratory disorder related to service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not service-connected as it did not manifest in service and there is no evidence linking his current condition to any incident of service. The claims for hyperopia with defective vision and bilateral optic atrophy have been reopened, but new and material evidence has not been provided to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the residuals of his right knee injury are rated as noncompensable, and he was granted a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The appeal regarding service connection for COPD and TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran died of an acute myocardial infarction caused by his willful misconduct of abusing prescription medication.,Neither service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD nor any other condition contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's left ankle strain/sprain and lumbar IVDS, with facet syndrome and radiculitis, are found to be related to service. The COPD is found to be due to a now service-connected disability.