Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2003

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, costochondritis, and bronchitis. The claim for service connection for pneumonia was denied. A 10% rating is granted for a left varicocele with tenderness.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being remanded for a VA respiratory examination and consideration of the veteran's claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for acquired nicotine dependence, with secondary bronchitis and pneumonia is being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records that may contain relevant evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for the cause of the veteran's death under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and also denied the claim for dependents educational assistance pursuant to Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 35.

The veteran has withdrawn their appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, chronic bronchitis, reactive airway disease, and asthma as these conditions are not related to his period of active duty service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for granuloma annulare, asthmatic bronchitis, and mechanical low back pain were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lung disability, including residuals of pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma is being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for heart disorder, irregular menses with endometriosis, chronic genitourinary disease, bilateral fibrocystic breast disease, and allergic rhinitis with alleged sinusitis. The claim for service connection for bronchitis remains denied as new evidence is not significant enough to reopen it.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the receipt of new evidence and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The veteran's current bronchitis and resultant bronchiectasis are found to be related to his service episode of pneumonia, which is granted as service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic bronchitis, diagnosed during his military service, is a result of his active duty and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board granted service connection for chronic bronchitis and COPD secondary to asbestos exposure, assigning a noncompensable evaluation which was later increased to 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a chronic respiratory disorder during service and there was no evidence of asbestos or Agent Orange exposure. The current respiratory disorders are not etiologically related to any injury or disease in service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues listed on the front page of this decision.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis, asthma, and COPD due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The VA also noted that smoking-related respiratory disorders are not service-connected under current law.

The Board has granted service connection for nicotine dependence and chronic bronchitis/COPD due to nicotine dependence, finding that the veteran's current pulmonary complaints are related to his significant tobacco history during active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The appeals for these conditions are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchitis but denied service connection for hypertension as due to undiagnosed illness. The veteran's current rating for bronchitis is 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease, COPD, and asthma/bronchitis cannot be granted as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during active duty. The veteran's current conditions are considered to be due to his own use of tobacco products.