COPD decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter and is not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure and/or environmental hazards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have PTSD, and there is no evidence linking COPD, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder to service. The claim for service connection for these conditions must be denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, which the Board has remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not related to his period of active service and denied the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current chronic respiratory disorders (chronic bronchitis and COPD) are not related to his service.

The Veteran's lung disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, interstitial fibrosis, pneumonia (resolved), and COPD, are being remanded for further development to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current pulmonary disability, including residuals of pneumonia, COPD, restrictive lung disease, and pulmonary fibrosis, is not related to service. The current disability was also not proximately due to or made worse by his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumoconiosis, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his diagnoses of COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema, COPD, and pneumonia was granted. The disability is considered a direct result of his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and a pulmonary disability, to include COPD, were denied. The claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current COPD is not causally related to service, specifically his exposure to smoke and fumes from an aircraft fire during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is related to her active duty service, including her history of bronchitis and asthma.

The Board found no evidence of a direct link between the Veteran's current pulmonary disorders and his military service, including exposure to asbestos. The VA examiner concluded it was speculative to conclude that the Veteran's conditions were related to service due to his extensive post-service history as a mechanic and smoking habit.

The Board found that the Veteran did not experience full-body exposure to mustard gas or Lewisite during service, and thus, the presumptions in 38 C.F.R. § 3.316 are not for application. The record does not contain sufficient competent medical evidence linking COPD to service or any other condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis or COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a current respiratory disorder and concluding that any such disorders were not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development due to his relocation and inability to attend the previously scheduled hearing. He now requests a Board videoconference hearing in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, body strain of the chest and abdomen, and an extraschedular rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and bronchitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA pulmonary/respiratory examination.