Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, which was service-connected, substantially and materially contributed to his death from fentanyl and gabapentin toxicity. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's SMC at the statutory housebound rate is denied as his entitlement to a higher level of SMC has not been met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and bronchitis, finding no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bronchitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis due to an error in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, asthma, and chronic bronchitis due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence. The Veteran's symptoms are related to in-service exposure to burn pit smoke.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis/COPD is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA TERA medical opinion did not address the issue of burn pit exposure and the synergistic combined effect of all TERAs.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but denied service connection for a respiratory disability to include recurrent bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and bronchitis due to procedural errors in the prior rating decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to address his exposure history and medical opinions are needed regarding the onset of his conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma with chronic bronchitis was granted, effective November 12, 2020. The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance regarding whether his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, allergic rhinitis, and chronic bronchitis have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no showing of a disease or injury during service, continuous symptoms since service, or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder, persistent depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches were granted effective July 30, 2015. The claim for service connection of bronchitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. Claims for cervical strain and rheumatoid arthritis are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and sinusitis have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction or sinusitis, nor has he been treated for these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for bronchitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches with fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right shoulder disability, bilateral foot disability, and right knee disability have not been addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the cases are remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of their respiratory conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including bronchitis, due to exposure during service and found that his condition was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the current medical opinion is inadequate and requires further examination to determine if any of the identified respiratory disorders are related to or had its onset in service, and whether they were caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining updated medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and records, particularly regarding the Veteran's diagnoses and their relationship to service. The case needs further development to clarify these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of an addendum medical opinion regarding his respiratory disorder and a need for a TERA examination. The psychiatric claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for chronic bronchitis cough was granted. The left wrist disability, acquired psychiatric disabilities (anxiety, insomnia, short-term memory loss and lack of concentration, social adjustment disorder with anger issues), bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, vitamin D deficiency, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and skin disability (shingles) were denied. The Veteran's upper respiratory infection(s) other than chronic bronchitis was not addressed in the decision.