Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated clinical records and arranging for a pulmonary function test to assess the current severity of his bronchitis.

The Veteran does not have a current respiratory disorder, to include chronic bronchitis with wheezing, incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's substantive appeal regarding service connection for various conditions was not timely filed, and the Board finds it denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis. The issue of service connection for residuals of pneumonia and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic bronchitis remains on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension and a history of myocardial infarction, bronchitis, and sinusitis based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to mustard gas during service, which could potentially establish service connection for his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his current pulmonary conditions, including chronic bronchitis and pulmonary nodules, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The VA will determine if these conditions are related to service exposure in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and examination, including a VA examination to address the credibility of the Veteran's statements regarding service events and symptoms.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disability, to include chronic bronchitis. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed and remands the case for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, bilateral residuals of shin splints, a left shoulder disability, lower respiratory disease (bronchitis and asthma), and gastrointestinal disability (GERD/gastritis).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer and bronchitis have been denied on the merits. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for lung cancer, as there is currently no diagnosis of lung cancer. For bronchitis, the Board noted that while asbestos exposure was alleged, there is insufficient evidence to establish a current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 10, 2010 at Rapid City Regional Hospital were denied as the treatment was not for a service-connected disability and there was no indication that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, and COPD due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a pulmonary disorder, to include COPD, sleep apnea, bronchitis, and asthma, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure to jet fuel.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for asthma and COPD with history of pneumonia and bronchitis was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is February 13, 2001 when he filed his initial claim.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as she does not have a chronic lung disorder, including bronchitis, that is attributable to service. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected bilateral Morton's neuromas (previously characterized as bilateral plantar fasciitis) remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability, claimed as chronic bronchitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current pulmonary disability, including asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, was not caused or aggravated by active service or any incident of service, including as due to in-service exposure to carbon tetrachloride.