Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, bronchitis, and sinusitis; service connection for a low back disorder; and TDIU due to newly submitted VA treatment records. These matters will be reconsidered by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and respiratory disability (other than allergic rhinitis), claimed as bronchitis and asthma, due to inadequate medical opinions in the August 2021 VA examination report.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, other than MDD/unspecified depressive disorder. The appeals for higher ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative lumbar disc disease, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremity, and bronchitis and sleep apnea have also been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed emphysema. The Veteran needs to confirm whether he wants to withdraw his claim, or if not, an addendum opinion is needed from the July 2021 examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, including asbestos exposure, and if his service-connected COPD has caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inadequate nexus opinions. The Veteran's symptoms of bronchitis, musculoskeletal pain, dermatological sores on the head, and psychiatric issues are being reviewed again with a focus on their relationship to his Persian Gulf War service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for chronic bronchitis is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and incomplete PFT results.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the reinstatement of disability compensation for service-connected bronchitis was denied as there is no evidence that his condition existed in the former compensable degree during the period from discontinuance of benefits until his April 2013 claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right knee disorder, respiratory disorder (bronchitis), dyslipidemia, warts, and right ankle disorder have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease with degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine has been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a body rash and an increased rating for chronic bronchitis. The Veteran's skin condition may be related to presumed in-service herbicide exposure, but this needs clarification. For his bronchitis, additional testing is needed as the examiner did not conduct a Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide by Single Breath Method (DLCO (SB)).

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral knee, left shoulder, left ankle, sinus, and chronic bronchitis disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was also remanded for a bilateral eye condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bronchitis disability related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition including COPD, bronchitis and asthma due to exposure to asbestos in service. The Board found that there was no confirmed exposure to asbestos and concluded that the diagnosed respiratory conditions were more consistent with his extensive smoking history than asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for glaucoma, lipoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma, lung condition (asthma and bronchitis), lower back pain, and bilateral leg tingling are not supported by evidence of a current disability related to service. As such, these issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with a 60% rating prior to December 17, 2020, and a 100% rating since then. The TTR and TDIU claims were denied.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and has remanded the case for a new VA addendum opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including his claimed service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinions and further development is needed. The Veteran's respiratory conditions, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, asthma, and pneumonia, are being reviewed for service connection.