Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2018

The appeal for service connection of abnormal heart has been dismissed.,Service connection for residuals of a back injury is granted, but the claim remains denied on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD, including scarring of the lungs and resolved bronchitis and pneumonia, is granted with a 60% disability rating from June 16, 2009 to November 29, 2016. The effective date for this grant remains at June 16, 2009.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for impotence, vertigo, and lymphedema due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The cases are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability, bilateral pes planus, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for blurred vision, bronchitis, and pneumonia as there was no evidence of a current disability that began in service or is related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for bronchitis, finding that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed bronchitis and that there is no evidence of chronic bronchitis during or after active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment and an increased rating for his service-connected restrictive lung disease (previously rated as bronchitis) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right shoulder disorder, respiratory disorder, and right elbow disability due to additional evidence being needed. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right shoulder disorder as secondary to his right elbow disability and for his respiratory disorder allegedly caused by asbestos exposure during service. He also seeks an increased rating for his right elbow disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted, but only as secondary to diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected nephrolithiasis has been granted a 30 percent evaluation.,The Veteran's left shoulder strain and right knee disability have not met the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's asthmatic bronchitis is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records related to the Veteran's respiratory disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of his ankle, knee, back, and lung disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left little finger disability is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran’s right thumb injury, TBI, tinea versicolor, eye injury, right leg injury, prostatitis, back injury, residuals of deviated septum surgery, sleep apnea, and bronchitis are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic asthmatic bronchitis and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and etiology opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective September 10, 2018. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective November 8, 2014.

The Veteran's panic disorder is granted as service connected. Lung, skin, and heat stroke claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The claim of service connection for bronchitis has been reopened and is granted. The claim for new and material evidence for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for further development due to missing records and the need for clarification of diagnoses.

Service connection is granted for right ankle/heel inversion, left ear perforation (previously claimed as right ear perforation), chronic bronchitis, and left wrist and thumb scars. A TDIU is also granted.,Bladder disability and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp are remanded due to insufficient rationale provided in the February 2018 DBQ.