Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2020

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed the case due to lack of active appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for chronic bronchitis or service connection for CAD or ED as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The appeal for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, finding that there was clear and unmistakable evidence showing that his bronchiectasis with chronic bronchitis preexisted service and did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's COPD was granted service connection, and the Board found that his chronic bronchitis is not a separate disability from COPD.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, but denied service connection for bronchitis, asthma, squamous cell carcinoma, and myasthenia gravis due to exposure to herbicide agents and mustard gas.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, right shoulder disability, and dry eye syndrome with pinguecula and punctate keratitis are granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded an initial rating of 20 percent for his dry eye condition.

The appeal for service connection of bronchitis is dismissed. The appeals for PTSD, left knee strain, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a missed VA examination and requests for additional development, including rescheduling an examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development, specifically a lack of a VA scars examination. The Veteran needs to be provided with such an examination and for the examiner to provide opinions regarding any scar present as a result of service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's respiratory disorders and his in-service duties. The Veteran needs a VA examination to provide an opinion on whether his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, heart disorder, respiratory disorder (likely COPD), diabetes mellitus, type II, and lower extremity disabilities. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back disability, right hip disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bronchitis due to outstanding evidentiary development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bronchitis and left ankle disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim due to incomplete development regarding possible exposure to radiation and other chemicals while stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The Veteran's respiratory disorder is being reviewed for a potential connection with her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder due to insufficient opinions regarding direct, secondary, and aggravation service connection. The case is returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary condition, including chronic bronchitis and COPD, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any other exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's current vertigo is related to service or caused by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis with shortness of breath and sexual disorder (low sex drive) was denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to her major depressive disorder with chronic sleep impairment is granted, resulting in a 70% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis variant of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 1998. The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a pulmonologist regarding whether medications used to treat his service-connected respiratory disability caused daytime hypersomnolence, drowsiness, or sedation.