Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issues of initial disability rating for chronic bronchitis with reactive airway or asthma, and TDIU prior to October 5, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma was dismissed. A 100% evaluation is granted from April 8, 2021, forward, for his service-connected chronic bronchitis with COPD.

The Veteran's acute bronchitis was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology is not established or is attributable to intercurrent causes. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disability and whether he had service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War era.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a bronchial disability is granted. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bronchial disability, also claimed as bronchitis and spores, is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as due to exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act, and his bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are also granted as secondary to this condition.,The Veteran's asthma and bronchitis claims are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not involve the anatomical loss or use of both feet or one hand and one foot, nor do they cause him to be permanently bedridden or render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board finds that SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, including COPD, asthma, and chronic bronchitis, is causally related to his active service exposure to burn pits during his time in Vietnam. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural issues and the need for additional medical examinations. The effective date of service connection remains August 25, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and nonservice-connected pension benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no authority to adjudicate these matters as they are now moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination for the claimed bronchitis and positive TB test condition, which may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions and their relation to service. The examiner is requested to review the medical records, including in-service treatment for bronchitis and pneumonia, and post-service treatment records showing recurrent symptoms of bronchitis and pneumonia.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to service, and thus service connection is denied.,Her chronic bronchitis has been asymptomatic throughout the appeal period, preventing a compensable rating under VA criteria.,Prior to November 18, 2020, her sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating due to its asymptomatic nature.,The Veteran's herpes did not affect more than 20% of her entire body or exposed areas and did not require corticosteroid or other immunosuppressant drugs for at least 6 weeks, preventing an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,Her left ankle disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent due to marked limitation of motion.

The Board denied service connection for a bladder disorder, Bell's palsy, and did not find evidence of current diagnoses for fatigue disorder, dizzy spells, or bronchitis.,There is no persuasive medical evidence linking the Veteran’s claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's functional impairment from his service-connected disabilities, as he failed to report to previous examinations. The TDIU claim is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory conditions, specifically asthma and bronchitis. The examiner needs to clarify whether these conditions manifested during the appeal period and if they are related to service or other in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his character of discharge, as well as potential psychiatric issues that may have contributed to his misconduct.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current lung disabilities, including diffuse interstitial fibrosis and COPD. The case requires further development with updated treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis is denied, and the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability are remanded.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine. The issues for bronchitis and asthma are remanded.