COPD Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's vision problems, COPD, and residuals of pneumonia are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence indicates these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for COPD, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for an increased rate of special monthly pension due to her need of regular aid and attendance because she is not blind or nearly blind, is not a patient in a nursing home, and has not demonstrated an inability to care for most of her daily personal needs without regular assistance of another person.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his nicotine dependence, which developed during service and contributed to his COPD. As a result, the cause of death is now considered service-connected.

The Board has granted an initial 100 percent rating for COPD effective from the date of entitlement to service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's respiratory disability, primarily diagnosed as chronic bronchitis and COPD, was clinically established in 1982. There is no competent evidence to support a link between his service and these conditions.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected asbestosis, with secondary pulmonary fibrosis and secondary moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease effective February 2, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for asbestosis with COPD, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase during the appeal period.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, chronic obstructive lung disease, was not caused by his in-service smoking and did not contribute to his death. The claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was also denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, concluding that there was no direct evidence supporting the appellant's claim and finding it speculative whether nicotine dependence started during service.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to service, and thus his claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema were not shown in service and were not caused by inservice exposure to asbestos, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's COPD was found to be related to service, and his bilateral leg and knee disorder is considered a residual of an in-service injury. The claims are granted.

The Board found that the veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not service-connected, and there is no evidence to support a claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits. The appellant did not provide sufficient evidence to establish radiation exposure or any other basis for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

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

The Board found that the cause of death, arteriosclerotic heart disease, was not incurred in service and did not contribute substantially or materially to cause the veteran's death. The appellant's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic cardiac disorder, including cardiomegaly and hypertensive heart disease. The veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent.