COPD decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the requirements for VA benefits due to his non-service-connected conditions or lack of qualifying service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD is not causally or etiologically related to his military service, including exposure to chemicals like jet fuel and asbestos. As such, the claim for service connection for COPD is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the previous VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis and unguim, syncope, asthma, and COPD are granted. However, his claim for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's lung disability is related to in-service exposure to herbicides and asbestos, and may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer. A new VA examination is required to address these theories of entitlement.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and COPD due to asbestosis, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service. The Veteran's exposure to noise during service was conceded.

The Veteran is eligible for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses due to an emergency room visit on April 29, 2013 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital for a COPD exacerbation. The nearest VA facility was not feasibly available and the Veteran acted as a prudent layperson by seeking immediate care.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD and emphysema, is not causally or etiologically related to his active duty service, specifically his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

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

The Veteran's COPD was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that there is no link between his current condition and any in-service exposures.

The Veteran withdrew all claims on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's glaucoma is not service-connected as it did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of a relationship to his diabetes. The Veteran does not have heart disease.,There is no current diagnosis of heart disease, and the Veteran's symptoms are more consistent with COPD exacerbation.

The Veteran's diagnosed COPD with emphysema is not etiologically due to in-service exposures to ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radiation, asbestos, diesel or exhaust fumes, and upper respiratory infections.

The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure due to severe COPD, which was related to nicotine addiction. The Board found no service connection for any disability and concluded that the cause of death is not attributable to service.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn due to his request for a hearing before RO personnel. The case is now dismissed as the issue of service connection for a pulmonary disorder/COPD has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asbestosis and COPD are not related to his military service, including asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and noise exposure history.

The Veteran's COPD and pleural plaques are related to her active duty service, including her in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, including COPD and emphysema, did not incur in or is otherwise related to her active duty service. The Board also found that hypertension was not incurred in service and was not caused by a service-connected disability. Lastly, there is no evidence of a current eye disability other than possible refractive error.