Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for a right shoulder disability, GERD, bronchitis, asthma, a right hand disability, and a right wrist disability due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for GERD is being remanded as it may be secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability. The Board also requested an opinion on whether the GERD is related to medication prescribed for his service-connected condition.,The Board has remanded the claims for bronchitis and asthma due to incomplete review of the record, including a lack of VA examinations regarding in-service asbestos exposure.,The Board has remanded the claims for a right hand disability and a right wrist disability as they may be related to already service-connected conditions. The Veteran's MOS was gas turbine maintenance, which could have exposed him to asbestos.,The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous opinion regarding service connection for bronchitis. The Veteran's lay statements about symptoms during service need to be addressed by a new medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a respiratory condition, to include bronchitis and COPD, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused current disabilities.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's conditions are considered to be due to natural progression over time rather than an event, injury, or disease incurred during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn and dismissed. The appeal regarding a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disability, an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, MDD, and Schizoid personality disorder, and a bilateral shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during active duty or were related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, bladder disorder, and respiratory disorder (chronic bronchitis) due to incomplete opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, a disability manifested by fatigue, bronchitis, fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis, lupus, and memory loss due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's sinusitis and upper respiratory/breathing conditions, including allergic rhinitis and bronchitis, are granted. However, the issues of service connection for these conditions remain pending as remanded due to insufficient examination and new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for respiratory disorder, including COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this matter as it is no longer pending.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Board also granted restoration of the 60 percent rating for CAD and TDIU from June 18, 2009 to August 2, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests for a VA examination by an oncologist. The Veteran was not provided proper notice and opportunity for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions have been withdrawn. The Board has also dismissed the claims of service connection for several conditions, including BHL, allergies to sulfur drugs and insect bites, ear infection, dacrycystitis, fracture of nasal bone, endometriosis, gastroenteritis, a dental disability, residuals of cysts removal, left foot and toes injury, bilateral hip condition, right arm pain, right elbow condition, cervical spine disability, chest pain, inflammation of the lungs, BLE numbness (numbness of legs, right side pain and numbness), and service connection for left knee. The Board has also reopened claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, chest pain, inflammation of the lungs, BLE numbness and right-sided pain, a cervical spine disability, right arm pain, right elbow pain, and a left knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's asthmatic bronchitis is related to asbestos exposure during service and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability, to include bronchitis, due to inadequate reasons or bases provided in the prior decision and the need for further development.