COPD decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis and rounded atelectasis, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos. Lung cancer was not found to be related to service or in-service exposure to asbestos. COPD was also found to be related to service due to asbestos exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory arrest, hypercapnia, and COPD were not service connected. The preponderance of evidence is against the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's current COPD is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, including as due to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange and asbestos. The Board also found no evidence of asbestosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from the Armed Forces Pest Management Board and attempting to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records of his treatment at VA and a more comprehensive statement describing his exposure to asbestos.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD should be remanded due to unclear diagnosis and need for further medical opinion regarding aggravation of COPD by his service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's COPD with secondary pneumothorax has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected PTSD and COPD, which render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current COPD is not causally or etiologically related to his pneumonia during ACDUTRA service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered and to address issues of service connection, secondary service connection, and exposure history.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current pulmonary disorder and his service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD and asthma will be further evaluated after these records are obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lung disability, diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with a 10% evaluation assigned for his irritable bowel syndrome with duodenal ulcer and hiatal hernia. The headaches, COPD, GERD, and erectile dysfunction are all considered to be related to the service-connected condition of irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have COPD due to his active duty service, including exposure to tear gas. The evidence shows no chronic lung issues during or immediately after service and no current diagnosis of COPD related to service.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as COPD, did not originate during service or for many years thereafter and is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD, defective hearing, tinnitus, neurodermatitis, and hemorrhoids combine to a 90 percent rating. The weight of the competent and probative evidence indicates that these conditions preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and other pertinent evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's COPD is less likely than not due to his in-service respiratory complaints, attributing it instead to cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.

The Board has granted service connection for a disability manifested by irregular heartbeat and for COPD, which represent complete grants of the benefits sought on appeal.