Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2008

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for bronchitis, left testicle hydrocele, a left thigh disability, and left knee prepatellar bursitis have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by his representative. The claims for herpes simplex, residuals of a L5 fracture, and right shoulder bursitis are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Mountain View Regional Medical Center on May 9, 2005 due to lack of a medical emergency and the availability of VA facilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD and asthma, did not have onset during active service or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service. The claim for sinus condition with hay fever and allergies was previously denied and new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating this claim. The veteran's scar associated with jaw fracture is less than 13 cm long and does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for defective hearing in the right ear and left ankle disability, but denied service connection for bronchitis and otitis media with otitis externa.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include as a result of exposure to herbicides and asbestos.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence related to the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of pneumonia, restrictive airway disease, and rhinitis.

The veteran does not have bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a chronic disease within one year of separation from service, and no competent evidence linking any current condition to active service.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, hypertension, and headaches as they were not shown to be related to the veteran's active duty. Service connection was granted for impairment of the bilateral lower extremities as it was found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also claimed as bronchitis and pneumonia, was denied because the evidence did not show that his COPD was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and skin disorder, to include as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, are being remanded for additional development.

The claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was reopened, but ultimately denied. The claims for left ear fungus/otitis, nasopharyngitis, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma were not reopened.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis were remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing.

The Board finds that chronic bronchitis is attributable to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Hepatitis C, chronic bronchitis, a nasal fracture, headaches, a lower back condition, ulcers, dizziness, and sleep disturbances.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bronchitis was granted, as the evidence demonstrated FEV-1 of 87% predicted post-bronchodilator stimulation.

The appeal is remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing for the veteran.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, epidural inclusion cyst (claimed as fibrotic tumor), skin disorder, and immune system disorder.