Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in diagnoses and lack of relevant medical records. The issues include psychiatric disorders, throat disorders, chronic bronchitis, chest disorders, Barrett’s esophagus, ulcerative colitis, and GERD.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation for ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to April 13, 2012 and from July 18, 2012 forward has been dismissed. The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective February 8, 2012 to November 11, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchitis, COPD, and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is not considered to have previously submitted these claims as he did not claim them in his initial application.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for residuals of a broken middle finger was withdrawn. The claims for hyperlipidemia, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD were denied. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, sinus disability, bronchitis, asthma, hemorrhoids, jock itch, skin disability of the feet (claimed as athlete’s foot), and moles were granted.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran is granted an initial increased rating of 10 percent for bronchitis from September 14, 2011 and a 30 percent evaluation for asthma from February 17, 2015. Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected allergic rhinitis due to insufficient medical evidence on record. The Veteran is required to provide updated treatment records, undergo examinations, and testify at a hearing if needed.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include asthma and bronchitis. It also denied increased ratings for left shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease, cervical strain, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a respiratory condition, including asbestosis, COPD and chronic bronchitis, and whether the separate evaluation for GERD was correctly terminated effective July 1, 2013, and combined with the evaluation of duodenal ulcer. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disability, to include chronic bronchitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic bronchitis has been reopened and is granted. The appeal is remanded to obtain a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma and a respiratory disorder other than asthma (including COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis) due to exposure to chemicals and/or jet fuel. The Veteran's military occupational specialty was fuel specialist, which may have exposed him to these substances.

The Veteran's appeal for the claim of service connection for gastric ulcer has been dismissed due to his withdrawal. The appeals for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral foot condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. His PTSD is granted a higher rating to 70 percent, effective May 23, 2011. The other conditions (urinary condition, bronchitis, urticaria) have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, chronic bronchitis, and a psychiatric disability were denied in January 2004. The effective date for the award of service connection is set at January 7, 2013.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings higher than 20 percent for his ankle sprains and major depressive disorder with anxious distress are remanded.

The Veteran's COPD with acute tracheitis and bronchitis is rated at 30 percent from February 10, 2010 to December 13, 2016. The issue of higher initial disability ratings for the condition since December 14, 2016 is dismissed as the Veteran's representative limited the scope of appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU. The appeals for the other conditions are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinnitus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, left sciatic radiculopathy, reactive airway disease, a right knee baker's cyst, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, left inguinal herniorrhaphy, and chronic maxillary sinusitis. The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for eligibility to individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including asthma and chronic bronchitis. The Board found that his pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service and granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and for additional development of his medical records.