COPD decisions — 2016

The Veteran's heart disease and respiratory disorder were not shown to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides or asbestos. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, which is a complete grant of benefits sought on appeal. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is rendered moot by this decision.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical and vocational assessments to determine his functional limitations caused by his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, as well as its impact on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including RLS, COPD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, low back disability, and hypertension. The case is being remanded to obtain necessary medical records and conduct appropriate VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, claimed as COPD, is not service-connected. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his present condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's Grave's Disease and Thyroid Disability are service-connected.,Hypertension, COPD/emphysema, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Upper and Lower Extremities, Acquired Psychiatric Disability (other than PTSD), Right Shoulder Disability, Stomach Disability, and Neck Disability have not been found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bullous lung disease with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease materially contributed to his cause of death due to blunt force injuries. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records related to his hearing loss and respiratory disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of asbestosis and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. However, he was exposed to asbestos in service and has been diagnosed with COPD. The VA medical opinions do not support a link between his COPD and his exposure to asbestos in service.

The Veteran's fatal disabilities, including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus, were not related to service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of any causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diabetes mellitus, and COPD are not related to his active service.

The Veteran asserts that his respiratory disability, including pharyngitis, sinusitis, asthma, and COPD, is related to service exposure to chloropicrin gas during riot control operations in Japan. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer, and thus grants service connection for COPD as secondary to lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain VA treatment records and provide supplemental opinions regarding the Veteran's lung disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have in-service herbicide exposure and his claimed lung/respiratory disabilities are not related to service, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus granted.,COPD is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure and is therefore granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer has been reopened and granted due to his exposure to herbicides during service.,Service connection is also granted for kidney cancer, skin cancer, COPD, urinary incontinence as secondary to prostate cancer, and a psychiatric disability.