Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's collapsed left lung and emphysema have been granted service connection, while his sleep apnea has been denied. The issues of service connection for asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including multiple sub-diagnoses such as restrictive lung disease, reactive airway disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes, type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, COPD, and emphysema, as well as her claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions, and the current diagnoses were not related to service or exposure to environmental hazards.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's chronic bronchitis disability is related to his service, including presumed exposure to herbicides, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a lung condition, including shortness of breath, related to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's asthma and other lung conditions are being reviewed by a pulmonologist.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issue of recurrent pneumonia and bronchitis before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records and exposure information. The Board will schedule medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's blackout spells, left hand disability, chronic bronchitis, and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.,For the bilateral foot disability (pes planus, left foot fibroma and hallux valgus), another VA examination is needed due to inadequate previous examination.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, COPD and bronchitis as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury.,There is no current diagnosis for either COPD or bronchitis.

The Veteran's service-connected asthmatic bronchitis and COPD did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to February 8, 2017. After February 9, 2017, when he was granted a total disability rating with special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate due to his prostate cancer and lung cancer, the matter of TDIU is moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for smoke and dust inhalation, claimed as bronchitis and a lung condition, to include as due to hazards of service in Southwest Asia or as due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that his current respiratory disorder was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's back condition and respiratory condition were denied service connection. The skin condition was remanded for further review.,Service connection for the Veteran’s back condition, respiratory condition (including sleep apnea), and skin condition is being reviewed.

The Board denied a compensable initial rating for chronic bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC values did not meet the criteria for a minimum compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6600.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lung disabilities and their relationship to service, particularly in relation to his service-connected pleural thickening and pleural plaque formation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for herpes labialis, a compensable initial rating for PFB, service connection for seborrheic dermatitis, bilateral hearing loss, and a respiratory disorder. The issues have been referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his asthma with bronchitis, left knee disability, COPD, and diverticulitis claims.,The Veteran’s kidney condition claim requires additional private treatment records from 'The Renal Associates' to be associated with the file.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's chronic bronchitis is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for COPD due to insufficient medical opinion regarding causation. The Veteran's smoking history and presumed exposure to Agent Orange are considered, but a supplemental opinion is needed.