Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2004

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and bronchitis, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or within the presumptive period. The veteran's assertions were not supported by medical evidence.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for chronic bibasilar bronchitis, atelectasis with scarring of right lung and asbestosis was denied. The Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted based on the facts in this case.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches are not related to service, but granted service connection for asthmatic bronchitis.,Service connection was denied for loss of sense of smell and taste due to lack of evidence linking these symptoms to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory diagnoses are not causally related to active duty, including in-service findings of bronchitis. The left knee disability is manifested by pain but no limitation of motion or instability. The multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities clearly interfere with normal employability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of any respiratory disorder found and whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals on all issues related to service connection for various conditions, as he withdrew his appeal of these claims in October 2002.

The Board has ordered additional development of the record to determine if the veteran's respiratory disability and heart murmur are related to service, including exposure to asbestos. The case will be returned for further consideration.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as a result of his conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back and skin conditions have not been reopened. Service connection for hypertension has been denied. The status of the remaining issues is pending.

The VA has determined that the appellant's chronic bronchitis does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The case is being remanded to the Board for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including exposure to mustard gas and service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cataracts, heart disability, dermatological disorder, bronchitis and breathing problems, Peyronie's disease, and prostatitis. The appeals were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during military service.

The veteran's claims for a right leg disability and respiratory condition were denied. Service connection was granted for bilateral pes planus with hindfoot valgus, but the pre-existing condition did not increase in severity during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the veteran's cause of death, but it is unclear whether this evidence establishes a direct link between the veteran's service-connected conditions and his cause of death. The appellant presented testimony indicating possible exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia, bronchitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, generalized degenerative joint disease, and cervical spine disability were denied. The veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability was also denied as secondary to back disability.,The veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of pneumonia and bronchitis prior to a decision being made.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bronchitis to his in-service treatment, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional treatment records from a VA outpatient clinic in Ft. Myers, Florida.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further evaluation, including a VA pulmonary examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder on the basis that the criteria for service connection were not met. The RO continued to deny claims for service connection for residuals of gall bladder surgery, residuals of fracture of the mandible, bronchitis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and asthmatic bronchitis, finding that these conditions are not related to the veteran's period of active duty or his service-connected psychogenic gastrointestinal disturbance.