Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's hip and pelvis injury is attributable to his active service, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's COPD (emphysema)/bronchitis did not begin during his military service and is unrelated to his service, including any treatment he received in service.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension or bronchitis in service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection as there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of pneumonia or any other respiratory condition related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder in service or that it developed thereafter, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's service connection claims for upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, left wrist strain, osteophytes of the right hip, gastritis, degenerative changes and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, spondylitic disc disease of the cervical spine, tendonitis of the left elbow, and tendonitis of the right elbow have been granted. The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected conditions has also been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, bronchitis, arthritis, and hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, chronic bronchitis, and a cervical spine disorder were denied. The claim for the skin rash was also addressed but not specified in terms of rating or effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bronchitis and asthma, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, tonsillitis, bronchitis, a psychiatric disability, and periosititis as there is no evidence of chronic disabilities during or following service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The veteran's request for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, and his claim of service connection for breathing problems was not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and bronchial asthma, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bronchiectasis with chronic bronchitis and service connection for PTSD. The claim of generalized pain disorder was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board found no current diagnosis of bronchitis and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder with pain, leg symptoms and sciatica, as well as COPD, asthma and bronchitis. The Board found that a chronic back disorder was not manifested during or within one year after service, nor is there competent evidence relating current back disorder to service. For COPD, asthma and bronchitis, the Board concluded that they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disorder is not related to his military service, including due to asbestos exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current respiratory condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is proximately due to his service-connected psoriasis and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of whether bronchitis is secondary to service-connected psoriasis remains pending.

The veteran's daughter is not eligible for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits because her 26th birthday occurred before the effective date of the veteran's permanent and total disability rating.