Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, specifically chronic bronchitis, is denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits information. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board dismissed the appeal for the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for anxiety neurosis with obsessive compulsive disorder due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for asthmatic bronchitis and service connection for bilateral glaucoma and PTSD were denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his asthma, and there is no evidence of bilateral glaucoma or PTSD related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by any incident of service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for COPD and chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses at SJH Cardiac Catherization from May 12, 2006 to May 14, 2006 is denied. However, the Veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred on June 4, 2006 at Carthage Area Hospital is granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the appellant's service-connected degenerative disc disease with low back pain, L4-L5 and L5-S1.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, cataracts, hearing loss, post-surgical bilateral pseudoaphakia, cystoid macular edema of the left eye, arthritis, chronic bronchitis, and allergic rhinitis. The reasons were that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bronchiectasis and bronchitis, asthma, GERD, hypertension, bilateral eye disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and right hip disability. The Veteran's appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchitis is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for allergies and hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right foot fracture was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms and limitations. For the second issue, the Board determined that new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the chronic bronchitis with obstructive lung disease claim.

The Veteran's private medical expenses for pillow, mattress, and bed protectors in August 2006 are denied as they were not rendered for a medical emergency and do not meet the eligibility criteria under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for chronic bronchitis should be remanded due to inadequate notice provided prior to August 29, 2001.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, AIDS, did not arise from his military service and is therefore not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ventilatory respiratory impairment due to bronchitis was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for skin rash and bronchitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's skin disorder of the face, scalp, and head area is attributable to service. The Board finds that pes planus, bronchitis, and arthritis of both knees are not related to service.