Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a nose injury, bronchitis, hearing loss, and headaches have been denied. The claim for chest pain is remanded, as are the claims for left eye disability and kidney cancer.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for IBS with GERD was denied, and the issue of service connection for a respiratory condition (including chronic cough, COPD, and bronchitis) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether any respiratory disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and tear gas is acknowledged, but no specific connection between these exposures and his respiratory conditions is established.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including chronic bronchitis, as the evidence did not show that it began during or was related to active duty.,Service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease status post meniscal tear was also denied because there is no evidence showing that the condition began during or was related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, lung disorder (to include bronchitis), and sleep apnea are not related to service. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions regarding whether his PTSD caused or aggravated his tobacco use and obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his claimed disabilities. The case is being returned for further development.

A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted from May 17, 2018 to September 26, 2022.,Radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each granted a separate 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including right ear hearing loss, hypertension, allergies, heart disability, liver disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include stress/emotional disorder, are remanded due to incomplete information regarding his military service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain clarification of the specific dates and character of the appellant's service, including his Military Master Pay Account (MMPA) with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis and his claimed COPD. Additionally, there is uncertainty about whether the Veteran had type I diabetes mellitus during the period on appeal.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a heart disability is granted. The Veteran's hypertension and obstructive bronchitis claims are denied, but the case is remanded for further examination regarding sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that his current obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service.,Service connection for sinusitis is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis, which he contends was due to exposure to burn pits and other toxins while in Southwest Asia theater of operations, is granted under the PACT Act. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that his current condition is related to this exposure.

The Veteran's asthma, allergic rhinitis, and bronchitis are granted as service-connected on a direct basis due to evidence showing they began during her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected depression and bronchitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded new VA examinations to assess his service-connected back disability, sciatica, respiratory disorder other than obstructive sleep apnea or rhinitis (claimed as bronchitis), and Meniere's Syndrome. The claims are being remanded for these evaluations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis and restless leg syndrome, as well as the secondary service connection issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his right knee disability, as well as service connection for a herniated naval. The initial rating for chronic obstructive sleep apnea and bronchitis with calcified hilar lymph node remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no final decision could be made on the merits of the claims.

The Board has found that additional development is needed and the case must be remanded for further consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, hypertension, and bronchitis as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran was not shown to have any nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and medical opinions to address conflicting evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lung conditions.