Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected right maxillary sinusitis and bronchitis did not result in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased evaluations for his bilateral plantar fasciitis are also denied.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and testicular cancer was not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD, skin condition, bronchitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder (separate from PTSD) are all service-connected. The rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's sinus and respiratory conditions, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, nasal polyps, and exercise-induced asthma, are found to be related to her service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current restrictive lung disease is less likely than not related to his bronchitis in service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current chronic bronchitis is found to have begun during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran died of cardiac arrest resulting from heart and lung conditions. The service records do not show any evidence of exposure to chemicals or herbicide agents, nor does the medical evidence link his death to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, right elbow disability, and bronchitis were denied. The RO granted service connection for PTSD effective June 1, 2011, but did not grant any compensable rating for the disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and prison records. A VA examination is also required to assess the current severity of PTSD and to determine if any claimed disabilities are related to service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a pulmonary disorder (chronic bronchitis), renal disorder (renal artery stenosis with renal insufficiency), and psychiatric disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain and residuals of a coccyx contusion, granted service connection for a skin disorder (psoriasis and dermatitis), and remanded the issues of service connection for a sleep disorder, a disorder manifested by blackouts, a disorder manifested by dizziness, an eye disorder, residuals of a right ankle sprain, residuals of a right great toe injury, and residuals of a coccyx contusion for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic low back condition and pulmonary disorder, including bronchitis and COPD, are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and securing a VA addendum opinion from the May 2016 respiratory examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's current respiratory disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claim for pulmonary asbestosis is granted. The claim for a respiratory disorder other than pulmonary asbestosis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was remanded due to a legal error in the previous decision. The case is now being referred back to the Director, Compensation Service, for adjudication of TDIU eligibility under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for asthma and bronchitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability and an ulcer disease, but reopened these claims. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is not supported by evidence showing a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder is not service connected, as it is not related to his active duty or any incident therein. The Board finds that the most probative evidence does not support a finding of direct causation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disabilities, including asthma and residuals of bronchopneumonia, are related to his active service. The appeal for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory condition, including COPD, asthma, bronchitis and pulmonary hypertension, is not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.