COPD decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining financial information from the appellant and requesting a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to exposure to Agent Orange has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a direct link between his current condition and service.,The Veteran's essential tremors were diagnosed after service and are not considered presumptively related to herbicide exposure. The VA examination confirmed the diagnosis of essential tremors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, verifying in-service asbestos exposure, and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current pleural plaques. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia did not contribute to his death, and neither did any other service-connected condition. The Board agreed with this determination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of a compensable manifestation of coronary artery disease or tuberculosis prior to December 14, 2009. The Board found that the earliest date upon which VA had constructive possession of evidence showing the Veteran's CAD had manifested to a compensable degree is December 14, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected COPD, which is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam. As such, the cause of the Veteran's death is now considered service connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, including COPD due to asbestos exposure, is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the onset and relationship of his current pulmonary disorders to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder other than paranoid schizophrenia. The Veteran's pulmonary disorder was not manifest in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to such service. The Veteran's skin disorder to include dermatitis was not manifest in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to such service.

The Veteran's current respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD, are not shown to be related to his military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current respiratory condition is related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the reopening of a skin disorder claim and service connection claims for various disabilities due to herbicide exposure. The Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of CFS, COPD, and Fibromyalgia. The VA examinations and opinions have concluded that these conditions are not related to her military service.,There was no mention or diagnosis of any of these conditions in her STRs, and they were first diagnosed many years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected disabilities, and the Appellant did not have a pending claim at the time of his death. The accrued benefits claim is denied as untimely filed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diverticulitis, and a low back disability. The claim for COPD was denied as there is no evidence that it manifested during service or is related to service. Service connection was also denied for shoulder DJD due to lack of in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for breathing problems is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the December 2016 examiner. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorders, specifically his current diagnoses of COPD, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis. The examiner is asked to address whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service exposure to asbestos.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, varicose vein disorder, and memory loss disorder. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.