COPD decisions — 2015

The Veteran's COPD is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer.

The Board has found that the Veteran's chronic respiratory disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a right lung granuloma, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have asbestosis and his COPD is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,Further, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim requires additional examination due to inadequate reasoning provided in the August 2009 VA examination.

The Veteran's lung disabilities, including COPD and pulmonary tuberculosis, are being remanded for further examination and determination of service connection.

The Veteran's COPD was not found to be related to his active service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical treatment records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (claimed as emphysema) will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause resulted in the inability to obtain evidence favorable to his claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD, and thus denied the reopening of this claim. The Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD was noted, but the VA examiner concluded that it was more likely due to his smoking history rather than exposure to CS gas or Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining chest X-rays and clarifying the VA examiner's opinion regarding asbestos exposure and COPD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sickle cell anemia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left knee disorder, and COPD. The evidence received since the April 1978 rating decision does not provide new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability, including asthma, obstructive chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The bilateral hearing loss disability did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's COPD is found to be incurred in service due to exposure to welding fumes, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the case needs to be remanded for additional development, including a VA medical examination by a pulmonary specialist and consideration of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on need for aid and attendance is denied as there was not a demonstrated need for aid and attendance prior to November 18, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his herbicide exposure and his condition. The Veteran's statements regarding this were considered to be competent but not determinative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and missing records. The appellant is seeking service connection for a lung disability, but there are no clear findings of a current lung disorder related to his military service.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through her representative, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and COPD. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus the claim for DIC is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was congestive heart failure due to or as a consequence of COPD. The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining home hospice care records and providing an opinion on whether service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.