Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the veteran's claims, including records from the Social Security Administration and a VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome, a bilateral knee disorder secondary to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a bilateral hip disorder secondary to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, and chronic respiratory disability, including bronchitis, were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis, depression with anxiety, PTSD, and a laceration on the forehead as these conditions are not related to military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for a new medical examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The VA determined that the veteran's current allergic rhinitis and chronic allergic bronchitis are not related to his service, specifically a left lung shell fragment wound in Vietnam. The Board found no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bronchitis, finding that the veteran's active duty period was sufficient to establish a chronic condition. The issue of service connection for vision disability remains unresolved as there is insufficient information provided.

The veteran's disabilities, including enucleation of the left eye and asthmatic bronchitis by history, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total rating for non-service-connected disability pension purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple arthralgias, a neuropsychiatric disorder, and chronic bronchitis. The RO decisions denying these claims are final.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic bronchitis warrants a 100% evaluation, while his status post right arm gunshot wound with ulnar and medial nerve neuropathy and right hand weakness is rated at 30%. The RO will grant an increased rating to 100% for chronic bronchitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions, finding no evidence to support a link between his current disabilities and his period of active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, arthritis, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure were denied.,It was determined that the conditions did not begin during or as a result of active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for chronic bronchitis with bronchiectasis is being remanded due to the need for VCAA compliance and the retrieval of VA treatment records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA medical records and ensuring all notification and development action required by the VCAA are fully complied with.

The veteran's claims for reopening a psychiatric disability claim and increasing his respiratory disability rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision information and conducting a VA pulmonary examination.

The veteran's claim for specially adapted housing assistance or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease (claimed as circulatory problems), degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and generalized annular bulging at L3-L4 and L4-5, post-traumatic stress disorder, bronchitis, knee disorders, headaches, and hand coordination problems, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The veteran's claims are denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VCAA notification and development, as well as the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during active service or within any prescribed presumptive period and were not linked to an established event, injury, or disease in service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, a bilateral knee disorder, and coronary artery disease. The evidence does not support these claims.