COPD decisions — 2013

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory and back conditions and his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis does not warrant a compensable initial evaluation, and thus his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his hearing loss and respiratory conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's COPD is related to his service, including asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including excessive alcohol consumption and several unspecified disorders. The decision concluded that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the original denial.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a CT scan and reviewing medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's lung disability is related to his in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was denied, but he is currently service connected for chronic bronchitis. The Board finds that the weight of evidence supports attributing his respiratory symptoms to known clinical diagnoses rather than Gulf War syndrome.

The Board found that COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or COPD, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, are not related to service or exposure to asbestos. The claim for hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was initially present during service and is considered to have started there. The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's COPD has been rated at 10 percent since March 17, 2008. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6604.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed COPD is related to his military service, specifically due to exposure to dust-exposing activities during service such as sandblasting and grinding cement blocks. As a result, the claim for service connection for COPD is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and histoplasmosis were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or after service, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and COPD, finding no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II. The issues of asthma and COPD are being remanded to the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a cervical spine disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, right arm and left arm disabilities, as well as psychiatric disorder (listed as depression) and COPD, all secondary to service-connected conditions or other causes. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired respiratory disability was not present in service or until many years thereafter, is not related to service, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including COPD, asthma, and bronchitis, were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are more likely due to decades-long heavy cigarette use rather than active duty service.