COPD decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches, COPD (claimed as emphysema and lungs), and bilateral knee disability. The new evidence received since the final decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was granted, and he is entitled to compensation based on exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied as there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service, including any potential asbestos exposure.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's stomach disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right shoulder condition, Graves disease, knee conditions, COPD, sleep apnea, or chest syndrome to service. The Veteran's GERD was attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed COPD and asbestosis are related to his active military service, based on in-service asbestos exposure. The Veteran was exposed to asbestos during his duties as an airborne radio operator.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis and service connection for a lung condition (claimed as chronic scar/calcified lung).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and a respiratory disorder, finding no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and analysis regarding his respiratory disability, including COPD, and myelodysplastic syndrome leukopenia. The examination will assess whether these conditions are related to his military service, particularly exposure to diesel fume exhaustions, including benzene.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of COPD before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition, including COPD and bronchial asthma, due to asbestos exposure is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and malaria did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from August 4, 2011 through March 13, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's hospitalization in July 1970 and requesting an addendum to a previous VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed spinal, knee, foot, respiratory and skin disorders are not related to his active duty service or toxic herbicide exposure. The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent cardiovascular disorder, including CAD, CABG residuals, and CHF, is service connected due to aggravation by his service-connected PTSD. The Board also finds that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's recurrent pulmonary disorder (pulmonary hypertension and COPD) was aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the Veteran's COPD was not incurred in service and is not related to his military exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim for service connection for COPD was denied.

The Veteran's asbestosis is not productive of specific criteria for a higher rating, and his COPD is considered in determining the severity. The Board finds that the symptoms are more closely related to his nonservice-connected COPD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD, left arm pain and numbness, sinusitis, or left knee condition. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran died from causes including cardiopulmonary arrest, sepsis, COPD, CFH, lung cancer, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hypothyroidism. The Board found no evidence of service connection for any disability and concluded that the Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease is found to have its onset in service and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issue of COPD secondary to asbestos exposure and as a result of hypertensive heart disease remains unresolved, but the examiner did not provide sufficient rationale or opinion on this matter. Service connection for low back disorder is granted.

The Veteran's COPD with bronchitis is manifested by post-bronchodilator FEV-1 of no less than 70 percent predicted, which does not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.