Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD or bronchitis, as well as his claim for a lumbar spine disorder. The veteran was previously denied these claims in June 2002, but no new evidence has since been provided.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, headaches, a left shoulder disorder, a gynecological disorder, urticaria, and panic disorder with agoraphobia. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or show these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as chronic bronchitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of documentation of chronic bronchitis in service records and no positive association with Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for left ulnar release and carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to the service-connected left wrist disability. Service connection for hepatitis C, allergies, and bronchitis was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of bronchitis, service connection for CVI disorder and a dental disorder, as well as TDIU. The decision also noted that the veteran does not have a disorder of multiple joints related to his military service.

The October 1974 rating decision denied service connection for chronic emotional instability due to a personality disorder, which is not a disease or injury for VA purposes. The June 2001 rating decisions reopened the claim and denied it again based on lack of evidence showing onset in service.,The June 2001 rating decisions also denied service connection for bronchitis based on post-service medical records indicating no findings attributed to bronchitis until February 1991.