COPD Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a respiratory disorder related to service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not service-connected as it did not manifest in service and there is no evidence linking his current condition to any incident of service. The claims for hyperopia with defective vision and bilateral optic atrophy have been reopened, but new and material evidence has not been provided to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the residuals of his right knee injury are rated as noncompensable, and he was granted a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The appeal regarding service connection for COPD and TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran died of an acute myocardial infarction caused by his willful misconduct of abusing prescription medication.,Neither service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD nor any other condition contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's left ankle strain/sprain and lumbar IVDS, with facet syndrome and radiculitis, are found to be related to service. The COPD is found to be due to a now service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis and COPD, to include as residuals of exposure to mustard gas and/or asbestos during active service, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion to clarify the etiology of the appellant's COPD and considering whether it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's COPD claim was not granted, but his PTSD rating remains at 50% since July 20, 2006. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disability, including asbestosis and COPD, did not have its onset in service or was caused by his active military service, including exposure to asbestos from January 1948 to January 1952.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, colon cancer, and prostate disability (to include BPH), as secondary to his service-connected residuals of PTB. The Veteran will be provided appropriate VCAA notice and an examination to determine if any of these conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA internist to provide an opinion on whether the cause of the Veteran's death was related to service, including due to in-service exposure to asbestos. The appellant's representative argued that PTSD aggravated the Veteran's disability and contributed to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and chronic right ear hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions originated during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, secondary to his service-connected nicotine dependence, was denied as it is barred by law due to the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1103 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.300(c).

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

The claim for service connection for COPD was reopened, but the Veteran's death is not considered to be caused by VA care.,The Veteran died from aspiration pneumonia due to pulmonary emphysema. The MRSA infection found on routine surveillance nasal swabs did not result in active infection and does not appear to have contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD and bronchitis were not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for further proceedings, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD and pulmonary fibrosis.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability as of August 1, 2005. His service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD and psychiatric disability are not related to his active service or proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected asthma. As such, entitlement to service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis, and thus denied secondary service connection for COPD.