Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current psychiatric disorder and assessing the severity of his service-connected respiratory disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability, right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and chronic bronchitis is granted as his current diagnosed lumbosacral spine disc disease was aggravated by in-service combat-related trauma.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asbestosis claimed as secondary to asbestos exposure during service. The case is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma, is not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for herpes, verruca vulgaris, shin splints, tinea vesicular, sinusitis, respiratory condition/rhinitis, seasonal rhinitis, bronchitis, headaches and venereal warts due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's lung disability, diagnosed as bronchitis and asthma, was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board found that the condition was incurred in service.,Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) including post-traumatic concussion headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lung disorder, including chronic bronchitis and obstructive sleep apnea, is being remanded for further examination to determine its relationship to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and chronic head injury residuals, specifically deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's pre-existing asthma was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders other than COPD were diagnosed decades after service and are not related to his active duty service, including exposure to 'stack gas' or chemical exposure during Project 112- SHAD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, multiple calcified pleural plaques in both lungs (claimed as asbestosis), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with pacemaker installation, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence received since the September 2007 RO decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and respiratory disorders, finding no credible evidence linking current disabilities to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule him for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his erectile dysfunction and any lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy, were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders were not present during active service or for years thereafter, and are not etiologically related to his in-service exposure to asbestos. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran submitted new evidence suggesting his lung cancer and COPD may be related to environmental exposure, particularly coral dust. The Board finds this sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand and had lung cancer, which is presumed to be due to this exposure. The Board also noted he had a history of chronic bronchitis but could not determine if it was related to his military service.