COPD Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension and COPD was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed to make a decision on the appellant's DIC and cause of death claims, including obtaining medical records from SSA and reviewing the service member's medical history for any potential service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected interstitial lung disease with COPD and migraine headaches, combined with his need for regular aid and attendance due to his vocal cord polyps and laryngeal cancer, meet the criteria for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD was incurred in active duty due to exposure to environmental hazards during service, particularly burn pits.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, COPD, was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, arthritis, depression, and COPD as there is no evidence of any such conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including asbestosis, asthma, and COPD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current pulmonary/respiratory disability, including COPD, is not related to his service, specifically his National Guard service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, COPD, and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hypertension is not at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD is not service-connected, attributing it to his long-term smoking habit rather than any in-service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected chronic bronchitis with COPD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, residuals of frostbite of both ears, and COPD with sleep apnea. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate this claim as it is now moot.

The Board has determined that additional VCAA notice is required as the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death does not involve a previously service-connected condition, and thus requires specific notification tailored to dependency and indemnity compensation cases.

The Veteran's breathing problems, diagnosed as COPD in 2004, were not present during service and are not linked to military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's cause of death, listed as cardiac arrest due to or as a consequence of severe COPD and severe CAD on the March 2005 death certificate, is found to be service-connected based on presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service.