Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for chronic respiratory disorders, including bronchitis, pneumonia residuals, and shortness of breath, which he claims are related to inservice acute viral bronchitis and/or herbicide exposure while in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues include reopening his claim of service connection for sterility and various other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bronchitis and residuals of an anthrax vaccine due to incomplete information in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's file must be provided to a new examiner for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for right hand disability, back disability, allergic rhinitis and bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and depression due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a nexus between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for residuals of an upper respiratory infection has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, asthma, bronchitis, and low back disorder have been granted. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's death was caused by an accidental acute tramadol intoxication, which is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. However, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he had not been continuously rated totally disabled for at least five years immediately prior to death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims. The Veteran was also denied a higher rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder and respiratory disorder (claimed as bronchitis) have been denied. The Board found no current disability related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleeping problems, hypertension, bronchitis, COPD, and intestine problems are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current chronic lung disorder, diagnosed as COPD/chronic bronchitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left temple headaches due to trauma was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of etiology between his in-service assault and current headaches. For bronchitis, the Board noted that no VA examination had been conducted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed chronic bronchitis did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records. The issue of entitlement to nonservice-connected pension remains on appeal.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The lung disorder issue remains pending as the claim for bronchitis was addressed in a separate decision.

Service connection granted for abnormal pap smear, low back disorder, and left hip disorder.,Initial compensable rating not assigned for service-connected respiratory condition (bronchitis).

The Board denied the appellant's claims for a compensable rating for asthmatic bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for lung disability. The Veteran's lung disability is now subject to further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to the unavailability of service treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, COPD, insomnia, allergies, substance dependence, and depression were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.