Chronic bronchitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and COPD due to exposure to burn pits during his military service in Vietnam. The Veteran was a Heavy Vehicle Driver, which likely exposed him to fuel fumes. He currently has diagnoses of bronchitis and COPD. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain the Veteran’s SSA records and update VA treatment records before readjudicating these claims.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to deficiencies in a VA examination and for further consideration of the service connection claim, reduction rating issue, and TDIU claim.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for various conditions including respiratory, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, implantable cardioverter defibrillator due to non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory and gynecological disorders are being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between her conditions and military service.

The Veteran's chronic bronchitis with history of pneumonia and COPD was rated as noncompensable prior to March 13, 2018. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on FEV-1/FVC post-bronchodilator results.,The Veteran's tinea pedis was rated as zero percent (noncompensable) prior to March 13, 2018. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on affected body areas or systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding effective dates and whether new evidence supports reopening a claim of service connection for respiratory disabilities. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, COPD, and bronchitis due to a lack of STRs. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to military noise exposure. Service connection for bronchitis was denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, upper respiratory infection, and common cold (previously claimed as upper airway resistance syndrome), finding that these conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis or COPD, on a secondary basis as the Veteran's current respiratory disorders were not caused by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his left knee meniscal tear with arthritis and right knee arthritis have been denied.,A separate 20 percent rating has been granted for the Veteran's left knee meniscal tear under Diagnostic Code 5258. The Veteran's right knee arthritis remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's collapsed left lung and emphysema have been granted service connection, while his sleep apnea has been denied. The issues of service connection for asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including multiple sub-diagnoses such as restrictive lung disease, reactive airway disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes, type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including bronchitis, COPD, and emphysema, as well as her claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions, and the current diagnoses were not related to service or exposure to environmental hazards.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's chronic bronchitis disability is related to his service, including presumed exposure to herbicides, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a lung condition, including shortness of breath, related to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's asthma and other lung conditions are being reviewed by a pulmonologist.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issue of recurrent pneumonia and bronchitis before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records and exposure information. The Board will schedule medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.