COPD decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, bilateral knee arthritis (including gout), and mild obstructive pulmonary disease including COPD are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of any chronic symptoms or diagnoses related to these conditions during active service. The disabilities were first manifested many years after separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's income exceeded the limit for receiving nonservice-connected pension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis, hypertension, COPD, and diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, coronary artery disease, and hypercholesterolemia due to in-service tobacco use. The claim for cervical spine disability was reopened but not granted.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of COPD and the evidence does not support a finding that any currently diagnosed pulmonary disorder is related to service. As such, the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD did not begin during or is otherwise caused by active service, to include any asbestos exposure therein.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Rice County District Hospital on November 4, 2011 is granted due to the emergency nature of her symptoms and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthmatic bronchitis and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) are being remanded due to an outstanding hearing request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU and DEA benefits effective from September 5, 2000, as he was found eligible based on his service-connected disabilities at that time.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Veteran's death was caused by pleural effusions/severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The Appellant is seeking service connection for a lung condition, which may affect the cause of death claim if successful.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disorder is related to service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected COPD, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's COPD and left lung cancer were not service-connected as they are not related to his active military service. The cause of death, COPD, was also not service-connected.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses from November 15, 2009 to November 17, 2009 are granted as the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether a VA facility was feasibly available for transfer.

The Board has expanded the issue to include any respiratory disability, including COPD and asthmatic arthritis. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional medical records.

The Board found no evidence of a current pulmonary disorder related to service, including asbestos exposure. The Veteran's post-polio syndrome is not considered due to pre-existing symptoms prior to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claims and noted that the disabilities in question did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting pulmonary function test results and the need for a medical opinion on the impact of asbestosis on his disability level.