Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, otitis media, and bronchitis. The veteran did not have these conditions during service or within one year thereafter, and there is no evidence of a causal relationship between any current condition and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder and bronchitis were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis and bursitis of the joints, as well as bronchitis due to mustard gas exposure. The other issues on appeal are pending.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C or a respiratory disorder, including chronic bronchitis and/or asthma. The examiner concluded that the most likely exposure was from blood, but it is difficult to attribute her hepatitis C to exposure during her military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary and procedural development, including obtaining VA treatment records from his service period and subsequent years.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current neck, thoracic spine, lumbosacral spine, right knee, right shoulder, right hip, right calf, or right foot disability. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not interfere with normal employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims. The veteran currently has a service-connected duodenal ulcer, hiatal hernia, and gastroenteritis that causes his diarrhea.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The skin rash is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure, but no current diagnosis of the claimed condition exists. Service connection for bronchitis or other respiratory disorder and arthritis of the back are also denied.

The veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Tahlequah City Hospital on February 29, 2004 is denied as he did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for VA financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied each of the issues on appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory infections, including bronchitis and an effective date prior to July 26, 2001, for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and thrombophlebitis of the left anterior thoracic vein. The initial ratings assigned for pseudofolliculitis barbae with alopecia (10%) and a left abdominal scar from a hernia repair (0%) were also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current bronchitis is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran did not have a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years prior to his death, and thus does not meet the legal requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran requested the withdrawal of all pending issues before the Board due to his request for a withdrawal.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis, effective from the date of the April 2005 VA examination. Service connection for bronchitis and asthma is also granted.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and asthmatic bronchitis contributed to his death from congestive heart failure (CHF). The Board finds that the medical evidence supports this conclusion, thus granting the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities, and therefore, her claims for service connection for bronchitis and fibroid tumors are denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also denied as there are no service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's low back disorder is found to be service-connected, and he is granted a compensable rating for his left orchiectomy. The residuals of toxic gas exposure are not service-connected.