COPD Board decisions

The Veteran did not have any pending claims for accrued benefits at the time of his death, and therefore no accrued benefits were awarded to his surviving spouse.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as a stomach tumor) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim for reopening the COPD claim was also denied.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the required 70 percent for pension eligibility, and his disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including issuance of a statement of the case addressing whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for COPD and entitlement to service connection for pleural plaques.

From September 28, 2004 to November 18, 2013, the Veteran's asthma with pleural plaquing and COPD was rated at 10 percent.,Beginning November 19, 2013, the Veteran's asthma with pleural plaquing and COPD warrants a rating of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a lung disability, including chronic bronchitis and COPD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's respiratory disorder is related to asbestos exposure in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, specifically noise exposure during training. The Veteran's current COPD is presumed due to asbestos exposure in service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not linked to herbicide exposure in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for colon polyps and COPD, finding no evidence of onset during service or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his glaucoma and COPD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, fractures of the left tibia and knee, osteomyelitis, low back strain, right hip tendonitis, right sacroiliac region, and tonsillitis did not cause or materially contribute to his death. The Appellant contends that his depression due to combat duties, which is analogous to his service-connected PTSD, contributed to his death. However, the Board finds no clear indication of how this depression contributed to his death.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination for the Veteran's asthma and COPD, as well as an evaluation of his service-connected asbestosis. The case is remanded to allow for this additional development.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to support the claim.

The Board is requesting additional information and further development to determine the cause of death, including reviewing the autopsy report. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death will be adjudicated after this process.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for her pulmonary disorder, chronic sinus disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder. The conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound examination to determine if the Veteran's requirement for regular aid and attendance is related to his service-connected disability. The appeal will be further adjudicated after this examination.

The Veteran's lung condition, claimed as COPD with pulmonary fibrosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service and is not due to herbicide exposure in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorders other than COPD (asthma and bronchitis).

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his claim for service connection of COPD has been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion to address the nature and likely etiology of his COPD. The case will be readjudicated based on all evidence obtained.