Chronic bronchitis Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected chronic bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tendonitis of the left wrist is related to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis or evidence of bronchitis in the record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchitis, scars from lipoma removal, and residuals of a left hand fracture are not supported by the evidence of record. The medical evidence does not show any findings or symptoms warranting a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for left hemidiaphragm paralysis and bronchitis, but denied all other issues. The veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any lung disease and disability of the left hemidiaphragm.

The case is being remanded for further review of additional evidence received since the last supplemental statement of the case issued in September 2003. The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for chronic bronchitis with emphysema remains under consideration.

The Board found no evidence of service-connected disabilities related to mustard gas exposure and denied the veteran's claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Peyronie's disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, sensory polyneuropathy, nicotine dependence, chronic respiratory disorder (likely COPD with bronchitis), and a low back disorder. The appeals were withdrawn by the veteran.

The veteran's lung problems, chronic headaches, fatigue, hair loss, and sore throat and cough are not considered to be due to undiagnosed illnesses or other service-connected conditions. The veteran's compensation for residuals of a left nephrectomy is upheld.

The VA denied compensation benefits for additional disability associated with endoscopic procedures performed in January 1997, including hoarseness, sore throat, and neck and shoulder pain with numbness and weakness in the left hand. The Board found no evidence of additional current disability resulting from the procedure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, mitral valve replacement, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilaterally, and psychiatric disability. The decision found that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of chronic bronchitis and denied his claim for service connection. The right shoulder injury was also denied as there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a breathing disorder due to disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability and denied his claims for bilateral shoulder disability and bronchitis.

The veteran is service-connected for dysthymia with anxiety, asthmatic bronchitis, and a right wrist disorder. He was found unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions. The effective date for the TDIU rating has been established as August 24, 1998.

The Board finds that the veteran's chronic bronchitis did not first manifest during service and is not related to his service-connected pulmonary TB. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current condition was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date are not supported by evidence showing a claim was filed prior to January 30, 2001. The effective dates for service connection and increased evaluation will be fixed in accordance with the facts found, but shall not be earlier than the date of receipt of application therefor.

The veteran's claim for service connection for asthmatic bronchitis, including secondary to asbestos exposure was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board found that his current asthma does not have its onset in service.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 6, 1993 for the grant of service connection for the cause of death due to mustard gas exposure during service. The appellant's claim was previously denied in August 1971 and reopened based on new evidence submitted by her daughter.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's claimed pulmonary disability, including COPD and chronic bronchitis, is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the veteran was exposed to mustard gas in Bari, Italy during December 1943 and whether he developed any conditions related to that exposure. The appellant believes her husband's death may have been caused by his mustard gas exposure.