COPD Board decisions

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's lung disorder, including COPD and TB, to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection was denied as there is insufficient medical evidence to support a link between the veteran's current lung conditions and his period of active duty.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a service-connected disability, and therefore could not establish service connection for the cause of his death. The conditions listed as causing his death (cardiopulmonary arrest, pulmonary obstruction, COPD, emphysema, and pneumonia) were not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The Board also finds that the veteran's service-connected GSW residuals contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate, finding that she does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has determined that the veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor is this condition proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for COPD is denied.

The veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, including as the result of exposure to asbestos. The case is remanded due to lack of adequate medical records from his active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, bilateral hearing loss and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are not related to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including chronic depression, attention deficit disorder, COPD, a kidney disorder, sleep disorder, and impotence, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's lung disorder, rated as 60 percent disabling prior to October 28, 2002, is now rated at 100 percent effective from that date. The claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is moot as of October 28, 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for nicotine dependence and determined that it is proximately due to the veteran's tobacco use during service, which contributed to his COPD. The claim for a pulmonary disorder was also granted as secondary to nicotine dependence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding the veteran's respiratory disorders and their relation to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's COPD is likely due to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his pulmonary tuberculosis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was granted, but only effective from September 21, 2004. The Board found that the criteria for a 100 percent rating were met as of February 8, 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary/respiratory disorder, to include COPD and emphysema, as there is no competent evidence showing that any such disorder had its onset during service or is in any way related to service.

The veteran's COPD and CAD were found to have manifested during service and are related to service, thus granting the veteran service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the current medical evidence of record is insufficient to rate the veteran's claim pursuant to the new regulations. Therefore, a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination which conforms to the new regulatory scheme.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including COPD, hypertension, arthritis, dysthymic disorder, peptic ulcer disease, polyarthralgia, and hypothyroidism. The veteran's service medical records did not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for clarification on the cause of death, including potential exposure to asbestos or Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and his service-connected asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD and there is no evidence linking any diagnosed condition to service. As such, the claim for service connection for COPD is denied.