Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2015

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred during active duty service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's lung disorders, hypertension, and melanoma are being remanded for additional development as the VA examinations did not consider all relevant evidence or provide adequate rationale.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his service-connected conditions and asbestos exposure.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection of a respiratory disorder and denied his request for an initial compensable rating for residual scarring. The current respiratory disorder was not shown to be related to service, while the scar did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability claims, including bronchitis and COPD. The Veteran needs to provide VA treatment records and identify all medical providers who have treated him for respiratory problems since separation from service in 1959. An appropriate examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any respiratory disability.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Florida Hospital Heartland on January 17, 2013 was denied because the condition treated (acute bronchitis) was unrelated to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic bronchitis, residuals of a left fifth finger dislocation, or right ring finger disorder. Service connection was also denied for right ankle and foot disorders, as well as right shoulder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation at any time relevant to this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a statement of the case regarding service connection for COPD and chronic bronchitis, as well as a VA examination for his respiratory disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated private treatment records and a VA examination to address the onset of his respiratory disorders and their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's upper airway cough syndrome, to include as secondary to her service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, is a compensable disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for lung disease. The Veteran's COPD is considered to be a result of breathing particulate matter during his supervisory work in service as a civil engineer on major construction projects.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and chronic bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during her active duty service. Service connection was denied for asthma.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion or a new examination to clarify whether the Veteran currently has asthma and its etiology. The Veteran's lung disability claim will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable for the portion of the appeal period prior to April 21, 2011. A TDIU is granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for herpes, optic nerve damage, hepatitis A, B, C, gallstones, bronchitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, peripheral neuropathy and hypertension have not been met. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and its secondary effects on other conditions. The Board has determined that a video conference hearing is necessary due to the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.