Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, left wrist injury, and lung disorder with asthma and bronchitis have been denied. The lung disorder claim is pending as it relates to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bronchitis is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the development of the Veteran's employment status and medical treatment records is incomplete, and another attempt to examine the Veteran should be made. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's lung disability, post-operative left lower lobe lobectomy for bronchiectasis of the left lower lobe with active chronic bronchitis, is currently rated at 60 percent. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchitis has been asymptomatic throughout the appeal period and does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any of his service-connected disabilities, including post-phlebitic syndrome and its associated medications. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions were unrelated to the fatal intra-cerebral hemorrhage.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the permanent loss of use of a hand or foot, nor does she have ankylosis of either knee and/or hip. As such, she is not eligible for assistance in acquiring an automobile with special adaptive equipment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic spine scoliosis, bronchitis, and a bilateral foot disorder due to lack of new and material evidence for the thoracic spine claim and denial on merits for the other two issues.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with a rating of 30 percent for pneumonia/bronchitis effective June 19, 2002. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's laryngitis is rated at 30 percent, effective January 12, 2001. His service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his unemployability is due to non-service connected factors.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, service personnel records, and SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bronchitis was denied as his FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC values were within the criteria for a 60 percent rating, which is the highest available under Diagnostic Code 6600. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for chronic bronchitis, resulting in a denial.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for right knee chondromalacia, but did not find any other conditions related to active service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic bronchitis, kidney stones, and a skin disorder have been reopened. The evidence now shows current disabilities related to these conditions, which raises the possibility that they may be linked to service or exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, shin splints of the right leg, shin splints of the left leg, migraine headaches, and a skin condition due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability and respiratory disability, to include bronchitis, were denied as the evidence did not support service connection.