Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disability remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bronchitis was denied as there is no persuasive evidence that the condition began during service or is related to a service-connected disability.,PTSD was not rated higher than 50 percent, as the symptoms did not meet criteria for more severe impairment.

The Veteran's sinus condition, including sinusitis and rhinitis, began during active service.,The Veteran's intestinal disorder, including diverticulitis and IBS, also began during active service.,However, the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, began during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and evidence. The respiratory condition claim is related to exposure during training, while the low back condition claim requires a new examination considering the in-service fall.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral foot numbness, skin disability, and recurrent bronchitis are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, heart disability, and respiratory disability. The decision found that the evidence did not support a finding of an independent diagnosis or in-service event related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis and COPD due to conflicting evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding lung disorders diagnosed since July 2010. The Veteran's service treatment records show some respiratory related treatments, but the current medical opinion did not address a bronchitis diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for a pulmonary disability, to include bronchitis, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected COPD/chronic bronchitis caused or aggravated his subsequently diagnosed central sleep apnea.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.,An initial compensable rating for the Veteran's allergic rhinitis prior to November 18, 2020 was denied. From that date onwards, a 10% rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The claim for bronchitis was denied as the current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. For hypertension, a 10 percent evaluation is granted from August 30, 2019 to September 1, 2020 and denied thereafter. A 10 percent evaluation is also granted for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and levoscoliosis prior to September 2, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability to include allergic rhinitis and headaches are being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on the relationship between any diagnosed conditions and active service, including exposure to jet fuel.

The Veteran's cervical spine, bronchitis, and allergic rhinitis disabilities are etiologically related to her active service.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological disorders were caused by her service-connected cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's left foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found that remand is necessary for both the respiratory disability and bilateral hearing loss claims due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has found that there are outstanding medical records potentially relevant to the Veteran's claims for service connection and remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is withdrawn. The Veteran's right ankle pain claim is granted, but the respiratory disability and left foot condition claims are remanded due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders, including bronchitis, asthma, and COPD, were not incurred in service and are not otherwise etiologically related to service, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, authorization of non-VA treatment records, and a more contemporaneous examination for his fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for nerve damage to prostate is denied. The appeal concerning eligibility for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot. Increased rating claims for pneumonia with bronchitis, degenerative disease of the right ankle, and degenerative disease of the left ankle are remanded.