Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea syndrome. The claims are being remanded to obtain a VA examination and supplemental opinion regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his time in service, particularly related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's employment status during the relevant appeals period. The Veteran is required to complete a current VA Form 21-8940, including his employment history from 2010 to 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.,His low back disability was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to pain limiting motion and forward flexion limited to 80 degrees.

The Veteran's hypertension and migraine headaches have been granted service connection.,Service connection for sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD is remanded due to lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and to address his reports of flare-ups. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as chronic bronchitis, is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is allowed, but the issues of an increased rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), respiratory disorder (bronchitis), sinus disorder (sinusitis), and skin disorder (tinea versicolor, eczema) have been denied. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinea versicolor and eczema that is linked to his service exposure.

The claim for hypertension is reopened and granted. The claims for respiratory disorder, ulcer, GERD, foot condition, and skin condition are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether sleep apnea is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for pulmonary vascular disease, arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease), erectile dysfunction, and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bronchitis due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and a respiratory disability (including asthma and chronic bronchitis). The diagnoses are based on the Veteran's in-service symptoms and post-service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and cough. The Veteran is seeking a compensable rating for her service-connected allergic rhinitis, as well as employment considerations related to her condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an ulcer disability. The issues of service connection for the remaining conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, bronchitis, a back disability, COPD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking his lung disorders (chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and COPD) to his active duty service or a service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have continuous exposure to Agent Orange during service, and there is no evidence showing that his lung disorders manifested in service. Additionally, the medical opinions provided by VA examiners were more convincing than the appellant's statements regarding the effect of chemotherapy on his lungs.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and lung disorder (to include bronchitis and asthma) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, glaucoma, PTSD, migraine headaches secondary to sleep apnea syndrome, left ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, right elbow disorder, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, undiagnosed illness, medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for glaucoma has been reopened but not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis.