Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as bronchitis and emphysema, to include as due to asbestos exposure, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's current sinus problems and headaches. The issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of bronchitis, headaches, and sinusitis will be considered as separate issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for reactive airway disease and bronchitis, traumatic arthritis of the right knee, and abdominal muscle strain were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected chronic bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining prison medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's bronchitis with asthma is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that his condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The skin rash claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, a higher rating for pulmonary sarcoidosis with asthmatic bronchitis, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, providing new examinations, and considering the impact of his service-connected conditions on employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disability and cervical spine disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bronchitis did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lung disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals of a spontaneous right pneumothorax with asthma was denied.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus and little toe disability were granted. Service connection for bronchitis was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including systemic lupus erythematosus with anemia, thrombocytopenia, polyarthralgias and leucopenia, bronchitis (to include asthma), right knee arthritis, low back strain, temporomandibular joint subluxation, hypertension, and tarsal tunnel syndrome of the right foot, combine to a level of overall disablement that would likely render her unemployable given her vocational and educational circumstances. The Board finds that a TDIU rating is warranted.

The Veteran's asthma with chronic bronchitis is currently evaluated at 60 percent disabling. The evidence does not show that the disability warrants a higher evaluation based on FEV-1 or PFT results, and it also does not demonstrate daily use of systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to the severity of her service-connected disabilities, which include bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis and pneumothoraces (60 percent), painful scars associated with bronchiectasis (20 percent), bilateral varicose veins (10 percent), migraine headaches (10 percent), varicose veins of the right leg (10 percent), and tinnitus (10 percent). The Board finds that her service-connected disabilities alone have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and grants TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis and an initial compensable rating for IBS/GERD, finding that there was no evidence of chronic bronchitis and that the current noncompensable rating assigned to IBS/GERD is appropriate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of severe bronchitis or genital pain that are related to his active service. The evidence shows no complaints or treatment for these conditions during service, and there is no medical evidence linking them to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum status post corrective surgery, obstructive sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis/sinusitis with intermittent allergic bronchitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service records and for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his chronic respiratory disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for conjunctivitis, a respiratory disorder (including chronic emphysema, asthma and bronchitis), and a throat condition due to mustard gas exposure. The decision found that no new and material evidence had been presented to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bronchitis was not incurred or aggravated during service and is unrelated to exposure to herbicides, thus denying his claim for service connection.