COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's coronary condition was rated at 60 percent disabling prior to July 28, 2006 and from October 28, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran's COPD, sleep disorder (OSA), and tension headaches were not classified as medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective March 31, 2011. Service connection for COPD due to Agent Orange exposure has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased evaluations for his bilateral plantar fasciitis are also denied.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and testicular cancer was not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as COPD, was not incurred during service and is not related to any in-service exposures. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for gout of the right ankle and COPD have been denied. The VA has determined that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for gout or a rating in excess of 10 percent for COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and adjudication due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board found no current diagnosis of COPD and concluded that the Veteran did not have a respiratory disorder, to include COPD. Service connection for hypertension was also denied as there is no evidence showing it originated in service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current heart and lung disabilities are not related to service, including his alleged in-service asbestos exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current pulmonary disorders are not shown to be related to his service or asbestos exposure, and the VA examiner did not find evidence of asbestosis. The Veteran's COPD is considered a direct result of his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis.

The Veteran's current respiratory disorder, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is not considered to be related to his military service or asbestos exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD and because SSA disability records need to be obtained. The Veteran will undergo a VA examination to determine if his COPD is related to service, including exposure to toxic fumes.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed COPD. The case is now REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's respiratory disabilities (asthma, COPD, and granulomatous lung disease) were not incurred during service. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's COPD is not service-connected, as it is neither causally nor etiologically related to her active service or secondary to her service-connected sinusitis.,The Veteran's right knee instability has been rated at 10 percent since August 2010. The examiner noted that the Veteran had a history of smoking and was currently in need of aid and attendance, which is not considered for rating purposes under Diagnostic Code 5261.

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, angiomyolipoma, left kidney renal calculus, radial sensory neuritis, and right antecubital fossa have been denied as not related to service. The claims for COPD, seborrheic keratosis, and asthma are also denied due to lack of diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of asbestos exposure and clarification on the relationship between current respiratory conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of respiratory/bronchus cancer and therefore is not entitled to service connection for this condition. The claim for COPD, claimed as asbestosis and shortness of breath, including as due to asbestos exposure, remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD and emphysema has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing the appeals as to these issues.

The Board finds that none of the service-connected conditions caused or contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death. The causes of death listed on his death certificate were not related to any service-connected disabilities, and there is no evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service.