Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's pulmonary disorder, diagnosed as chronic bronchitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for chronic bronchitis. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including bronchitis, emphysema and COPD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and further development of the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma is likely due to his service during ACDUTRA from February 23, 1958 to August 18, 1958 and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bronchitis, sinusitis, tinea pedis, tinea versicolor and tinea cruris. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain relevant records and provide the Veteran with adequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis was not manifested during active service and is not otherwise causally related to such service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that his current condition is due to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for depression as secondary to coronary artery disease, hypertension, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Other conditions such as hypothyroidism, histoplasmosis, manifestations of valley fever, and hypercholesterolemia have been reopened but the decision on their merits is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for chronic bronchitis and a skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, particularly those related to his respiratory and skin conditions. A medical opinion is also needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute bronchopneumonia and pulmonary emboli, which were a direct result of an acute hospitalization for surgery to treat colon cancer. The service-connected asthmatic bronchitis with COPD did not accelerate his death; however, the appellant's continued smoking after discharge from military service was the main causative entity in the development of conditions that were fatal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied. His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with gastritis is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids has been granted. Service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma, bronchitis and COPD) is also granted. The left knee disorder and low back disorder are not service connected.

The Board has ordered additional development to assess the Veteran's current pulmonary disorder and whether it is related to service, including asbestos exposure. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and denied service connection for a respiratory disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's reactive airway disease and bronchitis clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, but did worsen during active duty service.

The Veteran does not have a respiratory disorder as a result of his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran developed hiatal hernias, paraesophageal hernias, and recurrent bronchitis/aspiration pneumonia as a result of VA surgical procedures performed between December 1996 and June 1997. The Board finds that these conditions are not due to the carelessness or negligence of the VA in providing medical treatment.

The Board denied service connection for CLL and the related secondary disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Guam or elsewhere during service. The Veteran's claim for unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also denied.

The Board found that a current respiratory disorder did not have its onset in active service and is not the result of a disease or injury incurred in active service, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchitis, left knee disability, and cervical spine disability. The claim remains denied.