COPD Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for dependency and indemnity compensation for the cause of the veteran's death is not well grounded. The death was caused by natural causes, with no evidence linking it to VA care.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for COPD due to nicotine dependence, effective from November 1998 when special monthly pension on account of the need for aid and attendance benefits was granted.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his lung cancer, heart disease or COPD to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's COPD is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking his smoking during service to his current condition. The claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice connected pension benefits was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, apart from his service-connected pleurisy with tuberculosis and effusion, finding no evidence of a relationship between his service-connected condition and any other lung disorders.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current disability to service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected condition to his death.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to Agent Orange exposure or active service.

The Board granted service connection for various conditions and assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation to the fracture of the left ankle. Service connection was also established for first degree atrioventricular block, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sinusitis, recurrent ear, nose, and throat infections, hiatal hernia, gastritis, and cervical spine radiculopathy. The claim for service connection for rib pain was denied as not well grounded.

The Board has reopened the claims for cardiovascular disorder to include hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder disability. The RO is directed to obtain relevant medical records from Fort Rucker and other sources.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's COPD, finding that it is as likely as not related to his smoking during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation for multiple disabilities claimed as secondary to exposure to mustard gas in service, including upper respiratory disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hearing loss and cataracts. The decision is not subject to revision on grounds of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for restoration of a 100 percent evaluation and increased rating for his service-connected lung cancer due to Agent Orange exposure and COPD, as well as his claim for service connection for valvular disease and aortic stenosis. The RO reduced the veteran's disability evaluation from 100 percent to 30 percent effective April 1, 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's current lung disorder is not related to service, specifically his chest injury in 1943. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's COPD was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including nicotine dependence and its secondary effects. The issues were not fully developed or addressed.

The VA determined that the appellant is not unemployable due to his disabilities, as he has a combined evaluation of 30 percent for nonservice-connected conditions and does not meet the disability percentage requirements for pension purposes.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected low back disability, including degenerative disc disease at L4-5. The claim of an initial compensable rating for pronator muscle syndrome of the right arm is also granted. No new ratings are granted for COPD or left ear hearing loss. Service connection for chronic disability resulting from asbestos exposure and chronic sinusitis is denied.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's COPD and atherosclerotic vascular disease to service or nicotine dependency developed during service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed back disorder, headaches, tinnitus, and COPD. The claim for allergic rhinitis was also denied as new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen it.

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory disorder, including reactive airway disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), warrants a rating of 30 percent prior to April 18, 1991. After this date, the disability is rated as 30 percent disabling.