Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for skin cancer and chronic bronchitis due to insufficient VA medical opinions and failure to obtain all relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including asbestosis and chronic bronchitis, due to asbestos exposure is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for arthritis all over the body, hearing loss, atrial fibrillation, and bronchitis at a Board hearing. As the Veteran died during the appeal process, the remaining issues are dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of liver cancer and bronchitis due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for further evidence. The Veteran's blood pressure, kidney disability, anemia, eye disability (jaundice), and respiratory disability are all in question.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange exposure while stationed in Thailand. The appellant is seeking presumptive service connection based on her husband's alleged exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claim for PTSD, to include schizophrenia. The remaining claims were denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since May 7, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for asthma has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted in this regard, but the claims for psychiatric condition and respiratory condition (including asthma and allergic rhinitis) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic bronchitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete opinions regarding the Veteran's pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and their relation to his service-connected pneumonia with bronchitis. Additional clarification is needed from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis is granted under the PACT Act, which provides presumptive service connection due to exposure to burn pits. The claims for right shoulder and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to COPD and bronchitis, finding that these conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The Board also found no evidence suggesting that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests regarding a respiratory disability, specifically bronchitis. The Veteran's claim for service connection is now pending again.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's COPD with chronic bronchitis is granted a disability rating of 60 percent, effective from May 11, 2022. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims in a written correspondence.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, bilateral lower extremity edema, and bronchitis. The Veteran's COPD was not linked to his active service due to a lack of evidence supporting the claim.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema was also denied as there is no direct link between the condition and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis and asthma due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives, specifically the need for a VA examination.