Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, residuals of left pneumothorax with asthma and bronchitis, and defective vision. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient analysis in the May 2011 VA examination report regarding the significance of a June 1973 chest X-ray and current pleural thickening. The case must be reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected, and his obstructive sleep apnea and chronic bronchitis are both found to have at least some portion of their onset in service. The Veteran's increased rating for chronic bronchitis is also granted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorder, including chronic bronchitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bronchitis, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (claimed as Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia), or neuropathy. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues regarding obtaining treatment records from Dr. E.C.J.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and to schedule a hearing before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma, finding that his pre-existing asthma did not worsen during service and thus could not be considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding records and the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including COPD and emphysema, are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD. The evidence received since the November 2002 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service records are unavailable, but he has provided evidence of exposure to tank exhaust and spray paint during his military service. The Board finds that the requirements for ordering a VA examination have been met due to the continuity of problems since service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, bronchitis, and asthma, due to in-service exposure to jet fuel and/or cold weather is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic bronchitis has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bronchial asthma with intermittent bronchitis and residuals of post-operative giant cell tumor, right third finger are being remanded due to the failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that additional attempts must be made to obtain missing service records, including those from the Veteran's reserve and National Guard service. The appeal is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board finds that the appellant's symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath, similar to those experienced during a 1989 heart attack, were severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention. The closest VA facility was 80 miles away, making it infeasible for him to reach within a reasonable time frame. Therefore, the Board grants payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Cumberland Medical Center on May 27, 2008.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a conclusion that the Veteran has a psychiatric disorder that is etiologically related to service or service-connected disability, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA outpatient treatment records. Additionally, a more comprehensive examination of the Veteran's right leg disability is required.