Chronic bronchitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and evaluations. The cases are pending further development.,Specifically, the Veteran's claim for a back disorder is being reviewed due to new evidence received.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.,Service connection for headaches, secondary to service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with depression, is granted.

The Veteran's COPD is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, which has been rated at 60 percent since June 24, 2014, is now rated at 100 percent effective April 3, 2015. The Board also granted TDIU based on the service-connected respiratory condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic bronchitis is at least as likely as not related to his in-service diagnosis of Valley Fever, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for COPD with chronic bronchitis and recurrent pneumonia, as well as TDIU based on these conditions, are being remanded due to inadequate prior examinations. The Board requests additional examination to address the severity of his respiratory disability and its impact on work capacity.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to incomplete information in the VA examination reports, particularly regarding the Veteran's pulmonary hypertension.

The Veteran's appeals regarding left hand/wrist and right ankle disabilities, as well as bronchitis and lumbar spine disability have been dismissed.,Service connection for these conditions has not been established.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a right knee disability, specifically whether the current degenerative arthritis is aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Brandon Regional Hospital on March 11, 2018 is denied because a VA facility was feasibly available to provide the treatment and a full attempt to use the facility beforehand was reasonable.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's respiratory/pulmonary disorder, including its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis with hoarseness and voice distortion, as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis. The issues of increased ratings for chronic sinusitis, cervical spine disabilities, lumbar spine fracture, erectile dysfunction, and SMC have also been remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bronchitis is not related to his in-service diagnosis and denied service connection for bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are currently pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, including COPD and middle lobe nodules and bronchitis (claimed as asbestosis), due to lack of evidence supporting asbestos exposure or asbestosis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is more likely caused by his smoking cigarettes and 30 years of working in a steel mill.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability and that his in-service treatment resolved without residual issues.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic asthmatic bronchitis, finding that there were no prior claims filed before January 17, 2008.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, and his service-connected recurrent bronchitis is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection, while his claims for bronchitis and vision impairment are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cysts was reopened and granted. The heart condition claim was also reopened, but the respiratory disability, right hand disability, and liver disability claims were denied.,The Veteran died in August 2017, and his surviving spouse is substituted as the appellant.