COPD Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, COPD, and diabetes mellitus to the RO for further consideration.

The VA medical opinion determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, concluding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), was incurred during his military service and contributed to his death. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a back disorder. The remaining claims, including those related to immune system damage, myositis, psychiatric disorders, COPD and asthma, actinic keratosis, right knee disorder, hiatal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, are remanded for further development.

The VA determined that the veteran's current respiratory problems are not related to his active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's multiple disabilities, including COPD rated at 100%, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities prior to January 22, 2003.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Board determined that the disorders listed on the title page did not result from disease or injury in service.

The veteran's cause of death was listed as COPD. The appellant contends that the COPD began in service or developed due to exposure to various substances during service, including smoke inhalation and Agent Orange. However, the records from relevant healthcare providers are missing, and the RO is instructed to obtain these records for a thorough review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found that the veteran's lung disease, diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis, is not related to service or exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance benefits, finding that the veteran's heart and lung disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for COPD and hypertension, finding no medical opinion linking these conditions to active duty.

The VA determined that the veteran did not have full-body exposure to mustard gas during service and there is no evidence of a current COPD disability related to such exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic encephalopathy contributed to his cause of death, which was due to cerebrovascular accident. As a result, the appeal for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA hospitalization and treatment, as the immediate cause of his death was pneumonia, which he had for days due to underlying COPD. The Board concluded that DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions and denied dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of fault on VA's part.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed pulmonary disorder, including COPD and pulmonary fibrosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The decision also noted that there is no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and concluded that the current condition is more likely related to his long-term smoking habit.