COPD Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's countable income exceeded the maximum annual rate of improved pension for a veteran with no dependents in 2002, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's bronchial asthma and COPD are likely due to his service-connected PTSD, and granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a lung condition, initially diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and later diagnosed as interstitial lung disease. The veteran's current lung disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis, bronchial pneumonia, emphysema, or COPD. The May 1990 decision denying service connection is final.

The veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected PTSD, and the Board finds that DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, skin cancer, 'small strokes', and prostate cancer, all claimed as due to radiation exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on direct causation or any presumptive conditions.

The veteran's death was not caused by VA hospital care, surgical or medical treatment. The Board found no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA in his care.

The veteran is seeking service connection for COPD, which he claims was caused by asbestos exposure during his Navy service. The VA has requested a medical examination to determine if the veteran's current pulmonary disorder is related to his service and specifically to asbestos exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The veteran's asthma and COPD are service-connected, with the COPD being secondary to his pre-existing asthma. The right index finger injury claim was denied but reopened.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or higher disability ratings for various conditions, including PTSD, COPD, and hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that he did not meet the criteria for these benefits due to lack of total disability rating based on service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, COPD, was not related to his service-connected disabilities and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for several procedural issues, including contacting the veteran's brother and providing VCAA compliant notice regarding service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atherosclerotic heart disease, peptic ulcer disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed pulmonary disability, including asbestosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, due to service or asbestos exposure. The examiner found no evidence of such disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's asthma existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service. The current respiratory disability is not causally related to his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral eye disability, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, COPD, dental condition, and colitis, were denied as they are not considered radiogenic diseases or presumptively related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for respiratory disease and denied entitlement to TDIU. The evidence submitted since October 2002 was not new and material, and the appellant's disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of mustard gas exposure and a VA physician's opinion on whether the veteran's cause of death is related to his military service and any exposure to mustard gas.