Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) must obtain missing service treatment records and provide the veteran with proper notification regarding his opportunity to submit alternative sources of such records. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's exposure to mustard gas during service, and further development is needed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and VCAA notice.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected pulmonary disability did not contribute to his death, and there was no evidence linking his C. difficile colitis to service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between the veteran's chronic respiratory disorders and active military service, including exposure to cold weather in Korea. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability is service-connected, and his claims for chronic bronchitis are also granted. The other issues remain pending.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, residuals of a colon tear, and nasal disorder are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of chronic conditions. The claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis remains pending due to the lack of a definitive diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis and bilateral pes planus, finding that these conditions are attributable to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back condition, fractured ribs, left foot condition, right foot condition, and residuals of a right toe contusion. The claim for bronchitis was remanded.,Service records do not show any documented injuries or conditions related to the claimed conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions and denied service connection for all issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a heart murmur, and bronchitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2003. Service connection for CAD and COPD with asthma and bronchitis was denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and chronic bronchitis due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability, including as secondary to asbestos and mustard gas exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence linking his current respiratory disabilities (bronchitis, adenocarcinoma, COPD) to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected pulmonary fibrosis with obstructive pulmonary disease (also claimed as asbestosis and chronic bronchitis).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including reconsideration of entitlement to extraschedular benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b) and initial consideration of entitlement to TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including residuals of exposure to toxic chemicals, bronchitis, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings and new evaluations was denied. The RO maintained the current disability ratings for her lumbar degenerative disc disease and chronic bronchitis, except for a change in the effective date of the 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine.

The Board denied an increased initial rating for chronic bronchitis and bilateral bronchiectasis, as the veteran's symptoms were not more severe at the time of the claim or have worsened since the initial rating.