Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2020

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including asthma and COPD. The examiner must consider all diagnoses since April 2013 and determine if they are related to service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic bronchitis/asbestosis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran's OSA and related conditions are not related to his active duty service, while his heart condition, hypertension, and other claimed conditions lack sufficient evidence of a nexus to his military service.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis with asthma contributed substantially or materially to his death, and the Board finds this link sufficient to grant service connection.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis and stomach ulcers have been reopened, and the appeals are granted. The remaining issues remain in remand status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, IBS, sinusitis, bronchitis, chronic headaches, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have all been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional medical opinions regarding respiratory disorder and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining additional information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from October 18, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.