Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected bronchitis and asthma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicides, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and dizzy spells/vertigo due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's exposure to pesticides in Korea is being investigated further.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center on January 17, 2011 is denied because the emergency treatment he received was not for a condition that required immediate attention due to its severity.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication. The issues include an initial rating higher than 10 percent for interstitial lung disease with chronic bronchitis, TDIU, and a retroactive effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including MAI, allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, renal cyst, and muscle weakness (related to myasthenia gravis), have been denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension, respiratory disability (including asthma, bronchitis, and dyspnea), right shoulder disability, and right knee disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to the need to address other issues that may impact the TDIU and Chapter 35 (DEA) benefits.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the claims for bronchitis and heart disorders due to herbicide exposure. The decision on the right knee disorder is final, while the other two issues are pending further review.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for headaches and dizziness with blackouts is denied.,The appeals seeking to reopen claims of service connection for bronchitis and COPD are granted. The de novo review of these claims is remanded.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis is remanded.,The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand and fingers degenerative arthritis, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), headaches, a flu-like condition, bronchitis, a left knee and leg condition, and a right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, PTSD, lower back pain, sleep problems, and bronchitis due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports.,Specifically, the Veteran's complete medical records must be obtained, including VA treatment records since December 2014. A new VA examination is required for her knees, PTSD, low back condition, sleep disorder, and respiratory disorders.

The Veteran's asthma with history of bronchitis is rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6602. The effective date remains unchanged as it was granted on September 18, 2014.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for bronchitis as it is related to her service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis was denied, but his claim for bipolar disorder (now claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder) was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including shortness of breath, chest pain, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, bilateral leg disorder, coughing, tinnitus, and allergies, have been denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bronchitis and TDIU are being remanded due to a failure of VA to provide the Veteran with an adequate contemporaneous examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examinations, lack of consideration of all relevant evidence, and new evidence added since the last SSOC. The Veteran is required to provide VA treatment records, complete a VA Form 21-8940, and provide IRS tax returns.

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, including evidence of severe headaches and dizziness related to sinusitis with headaches. The Veteran's attorney submitted medical records and lay statements supporting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis has been withdrawn. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, may be related to his in-service exposure to second-hand smoke. However, the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding this relationship. The case is remanded for a new examination to determine if the current respiratory disorders are caused by service.