Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the medical record to comply with previous Board and Court orders.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lung condition, to include bronchitis. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support an award of benefits as there is no competent medical evidence showing that the current lung conditions are related to active duty service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for acquired nicotine dependence with secondary bronchitis and pneumonia, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct link between in-service smoking and his current respiratory disorders.

The Board granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected pneumonia/bronchitis, but denied a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder and arthritis are denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchitis is service-connected, and he is assigned a 30 percent rating for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disease, kidney disability, asthma/bronchitis, stroke residuals, cephalgia/headaches, and defective vision. The decision found no evidence of these conditions in service or due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the veteran's current sinusitis, rhinitis, and bronchitis and his military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and the Board denies his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bronchitis, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for hemorrhoids, service connection for PTSD, body strain including the chest, back, and abdomen, and reopening of claims for bronchitis and a left knee disability. The RO also denied the claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for neuritis, chronic bronchitis with tuberculosis infection, and a duodenal ulcer.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD with a history of asthmatic bronchitis and assigned an initial 60 percent evaluation, effective April 28, 2001. The award of TDIU was also granted as of this date.

The veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is denied because he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of chronic sinusitis, residuals of viral influenza, or chronic pharyngitis. The claim for a pulmonary disorder (to include emphysema, COPD, and bronchitis) is denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service and the post-service symptoms are too remote in time to support a finding of in-service onset.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bronchitis and scars of the right hand and forearm has been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's exposure to loud noise during active service is sufficient to establish a current disability. The other conditions were either not diagnosed or denied due to lack of evidence.

The veteran's service-connected splenectomy is currently rated at 20 percent, and her appendectomy does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The Board found no evidence of systemic infections or other complications related to the splenectomy that would justify an increased rating.