COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing and clarifying the appellant's representation status.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's death was found to be service-connected, and the appellant submitted a timely claim for accrued benefits. The Board finds that the appellant's claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was advanced dementia, which is not service-connected. The other conditions contributing to his death (COPD, CAD, and seizure disorder) are also not service-connected. The Veteran did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected COPD contributed substantially or materially to his death from lung cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD claimed as due to asbestos exposure, is being remanded for further action.

The Board found no evidence of a heart injury or disease in service, and the Veteran does not have current diagnosed conditions for heart disorder, hypertension, blood disorder, or COPD. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional development regarding his claims for service connection for COPD and sleep apnea, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's asbestos exposure syndrome and COPD have not met the criteria for a higher disability evaluation, as his lung function tests do not show impairment that warrants an increased rating.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for COPD and emphysema, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected asbestosis. The Board finds that an additional medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current COPD and/or emphysema was aggravated by his service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disabilities prevent him from protecting himself from the hazards of his environment, meeting the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a respiratory disability, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran did not have a chronic respiratory disability during his period of active duty or since filing his claim.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, characterized as asthma with x-ray evidence of COPD and emphysema, warrants a 30 percent rating due to the need for daily inhalational anti-inflammatory/bronchodilator therapy.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the cause of the Veteran's death is etiologically related to his active service, including malaria and multiple back injuries during combat.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including COPD and bronchitis, did not begin during service or as a result of any incident in service. The evidence showed that his symptoms began many years after service separation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to determine the etiology of any left eye disability and a Statement of the Case on his claim for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for asthma with pleural plaquing and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Veteran died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The appellant contends that his death was caused by asbestos exposure during military service, but the VA examiner found no evidence of asbestos-related lung disease in the Veteran's records. Additional medical opinion and treatment records are needed to determine if the Veteran's terminal COPD is attributable to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary tuberculosis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen service connection for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis. The underlying claim on the merits regarding bilateral hearing loss is not addressed due to its status of 'unknown'.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including acquired heart disease, COPD, neck disability, back disability, and psychiatric disorder. The reasons were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.