Chronic bronchitis — all decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and clarifying the veteran's claims. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, chronic bronchitis, and bilateral hearing loss with otitis externa are being addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for various respiratory and other conditions, including laryngitis, bronchitis, corneal opacities, arthritis, enlargement of the testicles, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and cor pulmonale, as secondary to mustard gas exposure during active military service. The Board found that there was no verified full-body mustard gas exposure and that medical evidence did not show these conditions were due to mustard gas exposure or incurred coincident with service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for lung disease, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis and bilateral knee disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis and COPD. The evidence submitted did not provide new and material information linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis and COPD, claiming these conditions as due to exposure to herbicides and printing press chemicals. New evidence submitted by the veteran indicates he was exposed to toxic chemicals while operating a printing press in Vietnam. The Board will proceed with further development to determine the etiology of any current respiratory disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and issuing a Statement of the Case on accrued benefits claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for asthmatic bronchitis. The veteran presented a new theory of service connection based on his history of smoking during service, but this theory is precluded by law due to the prohibition against service connection for disabilities resulting from tobacco use in military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of empyema with asthmatic bronchitis, finding that his current condition is related to a pre-existing lung defect that was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of increased evaluation for bronchitis and reopening of his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to bronchitis due to new evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to notification requirements and the need for additional evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's asbestosis with bronchitis, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the current FVC and DLCO results.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for additional evidence. The case is now being remanded for the requested development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed respiratory, gastrointestinal, arthritis, heart disorder, and diabetes mellitus conditions are not service-connected. The veteran's claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for liver disease is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic pulmonary disorder, including bronchitis and pulmonary fibrosis, is service-connected. Additionally, the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his condition has been established, allowing him to receive special monthly pension.

The Board found that the veteran does not have interstitial lung disease as a result of exposure to asbestos during active service and his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis were not present during service or for many years thereafter and there is no causal link between these conditions and service.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to incomplete service medical records and requests for additional evidence. The appeal is currently remanded for these purposes.