Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to issues related to service connection for sleep apnea with bronchitis and eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic or continuous respiratory disability since service separation and concluding that any current respiratory disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a disability manifested by blood in urine, to include a kidney disability; a right thigh disability; and a respiratory disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide new medical opinions on these issues.

The claim to reopen service connection for bipolar disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for ulcer, chronic bronchitis, COPD, sinusitis, OSA, and GERD are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, a back condition, bronchitis, amnesia, fainting spells, and hypertension. The claims were not reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a new examination to assess the severity of bronchitis and determine if COPD is caused by service-connected bronchitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disabilities other than allergies/allergic rhinitis, including chronic bronchitis and sinusitis. The issues of service connection for allergies and/or allergic rhinitis were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, bronchitis, left fifth finger fracture, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and bilateral shin splints.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service records. The Veteran's persistent cough during service is noted, but there are no clear findings of a respiratory disability until after service. Further investigation into morning reports from his unit in Vietnam is needed.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it did not have jurisdiction to consider the claim of CUE in the February 1995 rating decision regarding service connection for asbestos contamination, bronchitis and emphysema.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as his last employer was able to accommodate his hearing loss and he has no other evidence showing that his disabilities render him unable to work.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for sinusitis, COPD, and chronic bronchitis. The VA medical opinions found no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service, and linked them to post-service smoking rather than service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lung disability and its relationship to his service-connected condition. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The matter is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the respiratory disorder, specifically asthma. The Veteran's testimony and VA treatment records indicate a history of asthma dating back to 2006, but the examiner did not address these points in their initial opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchitis due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the condition preexisted service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and respiratory condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder tendonitis, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss disability, and chronic bronchitis have been granted. However, the Veteran did not appeal the effective dates assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's COPD and other respiratory conditions. The Veteran was exposed to jet fuel and hazardous substances in service, which may have contributed to his current condition.