COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's death was attributed to COPD and heart failure. The appellant contends the cause of death qualifies for presumptive service connection based on the Veteran’s service in Vietnam aboard naval vessels, or due to asbestos exposure during his 18-year naval career. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's presence within the territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of COPD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted, while her claims for right ankle disability, neuro rhinitis, sinusitis, and COPD are denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability. None of the conditions noted on his death certificate as contributing to his death were service connected, and no evidence links these conditions with service.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that the medications used to treat his service-connected disabilities caused his death.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, COPD with pulmonary hypertension, and other disabilities, resulted in significant need for regular aid and attendance. However, the criteria for SMC in excess of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) were not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, right leg disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability (COPD), finding no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to link them to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded all other issues due to lack of evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence. The claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, eye disability (blurred vision), bilateral hearing loss disability, respiratory disability (COPD, lung condition with patch), sleep apnea, prostate disability, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal as the Appellant withdrew her appeals prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there was at least an even balance of evidence supporting a link between his asbestos exposure during service and his current COPD. The appeal regarding asbestosis was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee, foot, hand disabilities and COPD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is conceded.

The claim for service connection for cause of death is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's esophageal cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine, bilateral ankles, bilateral feet, COPD, a cardiovascular disorder, and PTSD due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for vision problems, fatigue, COPD, degenerative disc disease, headaches, and neurobehavioral effects including trouble relaxing and short tempered have been dismissed. The appeal for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder and remanded other issues including service connection for bleeding ulcers, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, including emphysema and COPD, residuals of smoke inhalation, as the evidence did not show that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to hazardous chemicals, asbestos, or herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, CAD, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need to associate missing records with the file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of whether his conditions are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical evidence. The claims of service connection for sinus problems, COPD, fibromyalgia (including as secondary to PTSD), and an earlier effective date for a 60 percent evaluation for tinea versicolor are being returned to the RO.