Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened and granted. The claims for fibromyalgia, chronic bronchitis, a sleep disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied.,The Veteran's diagnosed migraine headaches are secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current respiratory disability, diagnosed as asthma and including bronchitis, is related to service. Updated VA treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise regarding its onset during service.,Service connection for a respiratory disability, including chronic cough (also claimed as bronchitis and rhinitis), is granted based on the evidence showing it began during service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for right knee instability and chronic bronchitis, effective October 1, 2017. The restoration is based on evidence showing no actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The appeal for service connection of a respiratory disorder, including COPD and chronic bronchitis, secondary to hepatitis C is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability (to include COPD, chronic bronchitis, and chronic cough), bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and diabetes mellitus type II are not supported by the evidence. The appeals have been remanded to allow further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a disability rating of 50 percent. The claims for respiratory, skin, and nail disabilities are remanded due to insufficient opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted prior to August 10, 2022. Service connection for hepatitis B and a respiratory disorder (claimed as respiratory insufficiency, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, and sleep apnea) are denied. An initial rating higher than 60 percent for renal insufficiency is denied prior to March 5, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to address the issues of service connection and rating for various conditions, including liver disability, respiratory disability, cardiac condition, GERD, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension.

The appeal on the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis is dismissed.,The appeal on the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome is dismissed.,The appeal on the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic bronchitis is dismissed.