COPD Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for service connection for asthma and COPD was dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis, COPD, and plantar fasciitis of the left foot were denied by the Board. The veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his hiatal hernia, does not meet criteria for a compensable rating for COPD, and meets schedular criteria for a 10 percent rating for his plantar fasciitis.

The veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disability, including COPD and asthma. He also seeks an increased rating for his diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded to gather additional evidence and conduct further evaluation.

The Board finds that the veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease, which is presumed to be service-connected due to his status as a former POW, contributed to his death. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to his overall functional independence.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the December 1988 rating decision denying service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, as there was no evidence linking the service-connected bronchial asthma to his cause of death at that time.

The Board found that the veteran's current emphysema with COPD is not related to his service, including exposure to asbestos during military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral varicose veins are not related to service, while her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is attributable to her period of active service.

The veteran's lung disability is not related to his exposure to herbicides and was not incurred during service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and lung disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for lumbar fibromyositis. The VA medical opinions provided no evidence of a chronic skin or lung disorder related to military service.

The Board found that the cause of death (septicemia due to urinary tract infection) was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected condition. The other conditions contributing to death were not related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to incomplete development, including the need for a VA examination regarding his COPD and left knee disability.

The veteran's COPD is determined to be related to his in-service inhalation of smoke and chemical fumes, thus service connection for COPD is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notice to the appellant.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, COPD, and recurrent kidney infections due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of COPD and determined that new evidence supports a finding that COPD is related to his inservice pneumonia, thus granting service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current COPD to disease or injury in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The lung cancer, COPD, and pneumonia were not first manifest during service or within one year of separation.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to dementia, which was not established as a direct result of service. The appellant's new evidence does not establish a nexus between any of the listed conditions causing death and service.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a connection between the veteran's COPD and emphysema and his claimed asbestos exposure during service, and denied the claim.