Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2012

The Veteran's lung disorder is not service-connected as due to herbicide or asbestos exposure. The Board found no evidence of a chronic lung disorder during service and concluded that the current COPD is more likely related to his reported history of chronic bronchitis.

The Board found no evidence of a current respiratory disorder and concluded that the Veteran's shortness of breath is not indicative of a respiratory condition but rather associated with obesity. Therefore, service connection for the claimed respiratory disorder was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis has been granted with a 10% rating effective October 1, 2009. The Board also found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his service-connected chronic bronchitis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's respiratory disorder had its onset during active duty. The lumbar spine disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has not reached a final decision on their merits. The Veteran's tuberculosis was denied as not having been incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's congestive heart failure, which is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lung disease, including bronchitis, COPD, and asbestosis, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchitis are not service-connected due to being related to smoking, including tobacco use during service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disability. However, the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's current lung disabilities and his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, to include sinusitis and bronchitis, are not supported by the evidence of record. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee chondromalacia is denied.

The Veteran's combined rating for all service-connected disabilities is 80 percent, which meets the minimum percentage requirements for TDIU. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis and bilateral disability of ankles and/or heels, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to her in-service treatment.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including bronchitis and asthma, was incurred during his military service. The initial rating for his lumbar strain is set at 10 percent.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service, and there were no pending claims for accrued benefits at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as asthma and bronchitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development of his claims file.

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claim is needed, specifically obtaining an opinion letter from Dr. Colon regarding his current COPD and its relation to in-service bronchitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed chronic bronchitis and COPD were not incurred or aggravated in service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service. The claim was denied on the basis that his lung conditions are caused by smoking.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.