Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2024

Service connection is granted for chronic bronchitis pursuant to the PACT Act. Service connection is denied for left knee disability, right knee disability, Morton's neuroma of the left foot, thoracolumbar disability, left shin splints, and right shin splints.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for chronic bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, and GERD due to exposure to burn pits during service in Vietnam. The Veteran is seeking presumptive service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding service connection for lung disorder, including chronic cough and acute bronchitis. The Veteran contends his current condition is related to exposure to asbestos and welding fumes during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received, including exposure to toxic substances and potential participation in a TERA. The Veteran's respiratory and hearing disabilities are related to his military service, but the right shoulder disability is not. A VA examination will be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of all conditions.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted as presumptively due to exposure to fine particulate matter during service in Southwest Asia. Chronic bronchitis and a right shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis was denied as there was no new and relevant evidence submitted since the February 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound. The Board finds the Veteran should have been provided new medical examinations to assess his current severity and impact of these conditions.

The appeal for an increased rating of PTSD and service connection for a lung condition (formerly claimed as chronic bronchitis) has been dismissed due to the failure to timely file a notice of disagreement within one year of the February 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected recurrent bronchitis has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent evaluation for bronchitis. The AOJ needs to consider whether the June 2019 submission constitutes an adequate NOD and address any alternative actions based on the arguments provided.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for his thoracic spine strain and service connection for his respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis) are remanded due to the need for further examination and clarification of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the record existing prior to the appealed decision, including a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's COPD. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is not considered to be the primary cause of his COPD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multiple myeloma and chronic bronchitis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being returned to the AOJ for a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of insomnia or bronchitis, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain clarification on whether the Veteran currently has these conditions and if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy, skin disease, nasal disability, respiratory disability, and headaches have all been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied because the evidence did not show that her knee braces or cane caused damage to her outer garments, and shoes are not considered clothing for VA purposes.,The Veteran was found to have multiple service-connected disabilities including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss and bronchitis, right and left knee conditions, tinnitus, and radiculopathy. However, the evidence did not show that her knee braces or cane caused damage to her outer garments.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 100 percent for asthma with bronchitis has been dismissed as moot because she was granted permanent and total disability status for her service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for alcohol dependence, anxiety, COPD, insomnia, depression, and asthmatic bronchitis due to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeals for various disability ratings and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of the appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis with bronchiectasis and CRPS as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis are granted. However, the claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded due to a duty to assist error.