Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide the necessary examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis/asthma, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an updated VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability (bronchitis), heart disability, and bilateral eye disability. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current URI disability and concluded that the Veteran's upper respiratory infection is not related to service or his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The VA examiner did not find any pathology for URI, and diagnosed bronchitis instead.

The Board has granted an effective date earlier than November 15, 2006 for the award of a 30 percent rating for residuals of pulmonary tuberculosis. The claim for a higher rating prior to January 28, 2013 remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and needs further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and IPF, was manifested many years after his separation from service and the preponderance of the competent evidence shows it is not related to, caused by, or aggravated by his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bronchial asthma with bronchitis (also claimed as double pneumonia) due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to it. The appellant must provide any outstanding private treatment records, including those from North Shore University Hospital at Southside and a nursing home where the Veteran received care after being discharged from the hospital.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and headaches have been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or chronic condition during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bronchitis disabilities prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to their severe impact on her ability to work.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are not addressed due to lack of evidence or further development needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, acute respiratory disease, asthma, and bronchitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her current bronchitis and asthma.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for bronchitis was denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the condition was related to service or an undiagnosed illness, and his claim for chronic sinusitis was denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the condition was related to service or an undiagnosed illness.,The VA audiological examination in April 2012 found no hearing loss disability under VA standards. The Veteran's tinnitus was attributed to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, to include bronchitis, is not related to his active military service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an effective date of January 22, 1994, for the award of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's increased rating claim for asthma with bronchitis and sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request and the need to ensure full compliance with due process requirements.

The Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, resulting in the denial of his claims for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current respiratory conditions are related to service, caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C.