Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2023

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower lobe lung nodule, bronchitis, COPD, and bronchiectasis due to new evidence. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, pes planus of the left foot, pes planus of the right foot, chronic bronchitis, and low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

GERD has been dismissed as the RO granted a new claim for GERD in June 2023, which was not part of the original appeal.,Service connection for scars on the bilateral eyebrows is granted. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding his injury during service is considered credible.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and reports are inadequate, and thus remanded for further development including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to determine if any respiratory disability is related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for acne vulgaris and alopecia have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for bronchitis, gastrointestinal condition (to include gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome), and sinusitis.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for service-connected sinusitis, but the claims for deviated nasal septum and bronchitis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for chronic bronchitis due to presumed in-service exposure to burn pits. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory disabilities and their relationship to service-connected conditions or service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and TDIU due to unemployability. The decision on these matters will be reconsidered, with a focus on clarifying the nature of the Veteran's bronchitis disability and assessing its relationship to his military service, including potential exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis due to additional non-VA treatment records being added to the claims file before certification to the Board. The VA is also requested to obtain a VA opinion addressing which symptoms are attributable to the Veteran's service-connected conditions (allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and sinusitis) in order to avoid impermissible pyramiding.

The Board denied service connection for herpes, finding the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The Board remanded several other claims including tinea versicolor, broken and bitten off left middle finger, right side lower rib contusion residuals, right knee tendonitis, bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, left foot disability, back condition, left shoulder disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and respiratory disability.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and upper respiratory disability (to include bronchitis) due to lack of a current diagnosis or functional impairment. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to particulate matter. Service connection for chronic bronchitis is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and right inguinal hernia disabilities have been granted service connection.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability, skin condition (claimed as dermatitis), and lung or respiratory condition (claimed as bronchitis) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's asthma and bronchitis, which are presumed service-connected. The VA is instructed to obtain SSA records and provide a new opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was untimely and thus, her claims are remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bronchitis, migraines, and sinusitis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, pneumonia, and COPD, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's current respiratory disorders and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II. Service connection was also granted for left upper extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.