Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's asthma and right ankle sprain status-post surgical repair claims are being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of these conditions. Other service connection claims, including those related to infections, mononucleosis, facial injuries, GERD, nausea, neurological disorders, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, and pharyngitis are also being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder, including COPD and other respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and hay fever. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing pre-existing conditions existed prior to service or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for recurrent acute bronchitis is granted. The claims for bilateral eye disability (glaucoma), OSA, and left knee disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for COPD, Sinusitis, and Chronic Bronchitis due to inadequate medical opinion in the May 2020 VA examination. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various conditions, including right elbow strain, right wrist strain, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, right hip pain, and sinusitis. The claims were also dismissed for left elbow lateral epicondylitis, a rating greater than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability, an effective date earlier than September 1, 2018, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for a right shoulder disability, and an initial compensable rating for surgical scars, right shoulder. The Board also dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to service connection issues. Additional medical opinions are needed to address the onset and relationship of these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that there was no in-service occurrence of her respiratory disorders and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between her current condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to July 30, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted since the last decision. The issues include sleep apnea, respiratory conditions (including asthma and bronchitis), and a lower back condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hand essential tremors were granted service connection on a direct basis. The issues of malaria, immunodeficiency disorder, chronic bronchitis, left thumb sprain, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, right knee strain, left knee strain with limitation of extension, thoracic spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain, left hip strain, and post traumatic headaches are all pending.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's respiratory disability, including bronchitis and COPD, is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected CAD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to, or aggravated by, his service-connected upper respiratory infection/chronic bronchitis with asthma and grants this claim.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, diabetes, and thyroid disability are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to jet fuel during active duty. The claims for chronic bronchitis, hypertension, and back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in his file, specifically private medical records from Kaiser Permanente. The Veteran will need to authorize VA to obtain these records and undergo examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The diagnoses are COPD with emphysema and chronic bronchitis, right knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss respectively.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a respiratory condition and joint disorders due to service in Southwest Asia and/or exposure to hazardous materials. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including an updated examination and opinions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is currently in remission and does not result in voiding dysfunction or urinary issues. The service connection claims for a respiratory condition (claimed as bronchitis, COPD, emphysema) and kidney cancer are denied due to lack of evidence supporting the onset during service or related to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an earlier effective date of September 22, 2005 for a 60 percent rating for asthma, COPD, pulmonary emphysema and bronchitis. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings, and a new VA pulmonary evaluation is needed to determine if the diagnosed unspecified restrictive lung disease is related to resolved atelectasis.