Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2007

The veteran is seeking service connection for a respiratory disorder, including emphysema and COPD, due to asbestos exposure during his Merchant Marine service. The Board has ordered additional development of the case, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran claims service connection for bronchitis, including as a result of herbicide exposure. The RO has determined that the claim cannot be granted on a presumptive basis but may possibly be established if the evidence otherwise showed that it was the result of service to include due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for dermatitis and bronchitis, both of which were previously denied in final rating decisions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for COPD/bronchitis, which he claims was caused by smoke exposure in his military occupational specialty as a smoke generator operator. The Board has ordered additional development to determine the etiology of his current respiratory problems and whether they are related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between his current condition and his period of active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence linking the veteran's current diagnosis of chronic bronchitis to his military service. The veteran is required to provide any relevant evidence in his possession and must undergo a VA examination to determine if there is a link between his service and his condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, chronic bronchitis, and residuals of mononucleosis were not established. The veteran was granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease and left knee trauma with instability, both rated at 20%. He was also granted a compensable rating for eczema from August 30, 2002, and an increased rating to 30% effective July 20, 2006.

The Board found no competent evidence of a current chronic respiratory disability, specifically bronchitis, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left eye disorder and granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for dysthymia and major depressive disorder. The other claims remain denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disorders, diagnosed as COPD and asthmatic bronchitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's obstructive pulmonary disease/airway disease/asthma/bronchitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have occurred therein, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for chronic respiratory disability and residuals of lead poisoning due to asbestos exposure in service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no current evidence of these disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding the veteran's in-service episodes of pneumonia and their relation to his current lung conditions. The veteran is required to provide evidence confirming these in-service incidents, which may be found in his personnel records or unit histories.

The veteran died from dementia and other conditions, but the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death.

The veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis is inactive and does not cause any impairment of daily functioning. His current disability rating for the condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not serve in Vietnam and therefore is not entitled to presumptive service connection for his respiratory disorders or diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The claims are denied.