Chronic bronchitis decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and anxiety, and assigned a 30 percent rating for asthma (previously rated as COPD) effective March 31, 2022. Service connection was denied for degenerative arthritis and higher ratings were denied for episodic sinusitis.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the Appellant.

The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic bronchitis to address whether service connection is warranted on a direct basis and to obtain additional evidence.

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer residuals and remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, and sinusitis.

The Board remands the claim for a VA pulmonary examination to determine the nature of any recurrent pulmonary disability and its relationship to active service, including conceded TERAs.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims, and they have been dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection for colorectal polyps was granted, while the claims for right ear hearing loss and other conditions were denied or partially granted. The PTSD with alcohol use disorder with TBI received a 70 percent rating.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed condition, including whether it is related to service exposure to burn pits.

The Board granted service connection for chronic bronchitis, a presumptive disability linked to burn pits and other toxins (BPOT) under the provisions of the PACT Act. The claims for service connection for a sinus / sinusitis disorder separate from non-allergic rhinitis and deviated nasal septum, and an increased rating for non-allergic rhinitis and deviated nasal septum were denied.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with some issues being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for chronic bronchitis and remanded claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability) and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic bronchitis with COPD, finding that the schedular criteria adequately contemplated his disability picture.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection, as well as earlier effective dates for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for pulmonary hypertension, asthmatic bronchitis condition, centrilobular emphysema with interstitial lung disease and chronic respiratory failure, diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to service-connected pulmonary hypertension, and ischemic heart disease with chronic diastolic congestive heart failure as secondary to service-connected pulmonary hypertension. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable rating for maxillary sinusitis, and service connection for chronic bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining adequate VA examinations.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma with chronic bronchitis as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted a 100 percent evaluation for acute bronchitis from November 29, 2020, and denied a compensable rating prior to that date. The claim for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for chronic bronchitis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the Veteran's in-service exposures in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, which are presumed to have caused these conditions.