Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic bronchitis is not etiologically related to his active military service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder is presumed to be due to asbestos exposure during service, and his acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, PTSD) may also be related to service. Service connection for substance abuse was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including COPD and bronchitis, are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a seizure disorder or active bronchitis, and thus the Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine whether the Veteran has a diagnosis of asbestosis that is related to service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied an extraschedular disability evaluation for bronchitis with asthmatic attacks, finding that the Veteran's condition did not present an exceptional or unusual picture of disability.

The VA determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorders were not caused by or related to his active service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disability, other than his service-connected asbestos-related pleural plaques, is not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis with asthma and arthritis of the legs were denied, while his claim to reopen a previously denied claim for laryngitis, nasopharyngitis with residual grippe was not reopened.

The VA has determined that the appellant's lung disability, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis residuals, and COPD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including as due to exposure to chemical dioxins in service.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, a left shoulder disorder, bronchitis, cardiac (heart) disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues with representation and notification. The claims for service connection are on the merits, but need further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis have been reopened. However, his increased rating claims for degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine and bilateral hearing loss disability remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, PTSD, bronchitis, right knee disability, left knee disability, or bilateral plantar fasciitis that had its onset during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's COPD and other respiratory disorders are not related to his active service, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to any in-service disease or injury. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current lung disorder, chronic bronchitis or any other respiratory condition to support the claim. For his lumbar spine disability, there was no evidence of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis. For his left leg fracture, he had asymptomatic residuals prior to January 11, 2011 and limited motion from that date onwards. The Veteran's service connection claims are denied.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the finding that the Veteran has a respiratory disability, to include COPD and bronchitis, that had its onset in service or is etiologically related to any incident, disease, or exposure during his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The left knee ganglion cyst is rated at 10 percent, with no additional compensable rating for extension or instability. Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, and an 8mm granuloma in his right lung. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.