Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorders, specifically chronic bronchitis and COPD.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain and arthritis, bursitis, loss of sense of smell, loss of sense of taste, bronchitis, gastrointestinal disability (acquired), headaches, bilateral hearing loss, basal cell carcinoma residuals, linear scar of the left upper extremity post-basal cell carcinoma excision, nonlinear scar of the left upper extremity post-basal cell carcinoma excision, actinic keratosis, and residual scars from inguinal hernia repair.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a respiratory disability, including asthma and bronchitis, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

Tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss, bronchitis, residuals of thyroidectomy, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are remanded for further development.,An acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the nature and etiology of his current pulmonary function limitations, including a review of recent medical reports and PFTs. The issues of compensable rating for residuals of pneumonia and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The evidence did not show a current diagnosis of a respiratory condition related to his military service or his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history. His claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for abscess liver, vertigo, bronchitis, persistent rash, immune disorder, breast lump, left foot pain, right foot pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, joint pains, and muscle pain are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding Gulf War exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for right inguinal herniorrhaphy and respiratory disability (bronchitis).,Service connection is granted for right inguinal hernia as it was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was granted, and a 10 percent rating is assigned for degenerative changes to the right ring and little fingers, effective June 5, 2012. The appeal related to his acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and memory loss associated with depression, diabetes mellitus, or medications.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical information and the need for additional VA examination. The Veteran's respiratory condition is being evaluated again, with a focus on in-service exposure to toxins.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is denied as the evidence does not show a current disability or relate to service.,PTSD was not diagnosed during service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The Veteran's tinnitus is also not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding secondary service connection for bronchitis and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and acquired psychiatric disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to his military service. The Board also found that his current diagnoses were not causally related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's chronic bronchitis disability pre-existed service, if it did, whether it was aggravated during service, and if not related to service.

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

The Veteran's asthma with episodic bronchitis has been rated as noncompensable prior to November 21, 2011; 10 percent disabling from November 21, 2011 to October 29, 2012; and 30 percent thereafter. The VA is remanded for further development of the claims file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis and asthma, and sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and need further examination and opinion.