Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound has been remanded due to a lack of recent medical evidence indicating he is in need of such assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, Graves disease, diabetes mellitus (claimed as secondary to Graves disease), heart disease (claimed as secondary to Graves disease), and residuals of injuries of the eyes, to include loss of vision. The reasons were that these conditions did not manifest during active service or are not related to any in-service event.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, allergic rhinitis, bipolar disorder, duodenal ulcer, and hypertension. The decision also addressed a TDIU claim but REMANDED it to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and bronchitis with sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or illness leading to these conditions. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bronchitis and sinusitis did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bronchiectasis, claimed as bronchitis, was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his pulmonary tuberculosis, far advanced, inactive with COPD and bronchitis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration records and potential asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's earlier effective date claim for a 30 percent rating for service-connected sinusitis, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran died of causes related to his service-connected COPD, including chronic bronchitis. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the veteran's COPD was related to his military service and to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and residuals of bronchitis and/or pneumonia, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for sinusitis. The Board also found that there was no medical evidence linking any current respiratory conditions to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) noted during service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and consideration of whether anticoagulant therapy used to treat service-connected post-phlebitic syndrome contributed to the veteran's fatal intra-cerebral hemorrhage.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for coryza, bronchitis and bronchopneumonia, ascaris infection, right costo-vertebral condition, and right shoulder disability. The claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic bronchitis is not related to service or his service-connected sinusitis, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all listed conditions, including those related to herbicide exposure. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters as the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal is now in effect.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bronchitis and a respiratory disorder, including asthma and emphysema with COPD. The evidence did not establish an etiological link between his current conditions and his active service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, hypertension, osteoporosis, and degenerative joint disease, all of which are presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure.