COPD Board decisions

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, including duplicate copies of previously considered medical records and a newspaper article.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of degenerative joint disease of the knees and COPD are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD, are related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The cause of death was listed as cerebrovascular accident, but there is no evidence linking this condition to any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bronchiectasis and a TDIU due to service-connected disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The specific issues of service connection are still pending.

The Board found that the veteran's COPD and photophobia are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, COPD, low back strain, and right shoulder disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, including as secondary to her service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's COPD is not related to his service or any Agent Orange exposure, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that COPD, claimed as due to nicotine dependence or tobacco use, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability related to his military service and finds no evidence of a compensable cervical spine disability. The claims for depression, left arm peripheral neuropathy, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and COPD/asthma are deferred pending completion of development.

The veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of their onset or association with military service.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for COPD, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material and did not show that COPD is attributable to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for respiratory disease, COPD, and emphysema are not supported by evidence of a nexus to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The cause of death was determined to be acute myocardial infarction due to severe coronary artery disease.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, but new evidence submitted since the last decision may suggest a connection between his service-connected conditions and his death.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and thus the claim for service connection for the cause of his death is denied. The appellant is also not entitled to service-connected burial benefits as her husband's death is not service-connected.