Chronic bronchitis Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected bronchitis and sinusitis, but needs further clarification based on additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.,Service connection for tinnitus is also denied, with the Board finding that any condition began decades after service and not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus, sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, bronchitis, and asthma are granted as service-connected.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the fractured proximal joint right great toe with degenerative arthritis since July 7, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right wrist, right ankle, and first metatarsophalangeal joint conditions have been denied.,His claim for a higher rating for pleuritic chest pain with pleural adhesions, chronic bronchitis, and COPD has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthmatic bronchitis is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for upper back pain, respiratory disorders, pleural effusion/pneumothorax, ulcers, GERD, erectile dysfunction, infectious mononucleosis, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for otitis media, tinnitus, and skin disability are granted. The claim for low back disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, hypertension, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, and joint pain. The decision was based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis in multiple joints (excluding the low back), an eye disability, sinusitis, bronchitis, kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, and skin disability. The decision also dismissed appeals for residuals of malaria and skin cancer.

The Veteran's Graves' Disease, acute bronchitis, and bilateral kneecap dislocations are remanded for further development. Specifically, the AOJ is required to contact all likely sources that may contain information of the Veteran’s claimed exposure to radiation and complete a dose estimate if necessary. The AOJ must also arrange for an examination by an endocrinologist to determine the etiology of Graves' Disease and whether it was incurred during service or due to exposure to fumes from burning oil wells or ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorders, as well as issues related to skin disorders and colon cancer. The jurisdictional issue of an earlier effective date is not addressed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, respiratory disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, TDIU prior to June 15, 2011, and SMP based on need for aid and attendance are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis is reopened and granted. The appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including asbestosis, chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis, is remanded.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's shortness of breath and non-cardiac chest pain are symptoms of his service-connected bronchitis and PTSD, respectively. Therefore, these conditions do not meet the criteria for separate disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD, chronic bronchitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are currently rated at 60 percent. A separate rating for the obstructive sleep apnea is precluded by law.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemia (claimed as coronary artery disease) and a stomach disability (claimed as an ulcer). The other conditions were also denied.

The Board has found that the service connection for COPD needs to be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development regarding exposure to asbestos and lead during service, as well as aggravation of COPD by sleep apnea and causation of COPD due to hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder, bone spurs of the feet (right), bronchitis, strep throat, and heart disorder are all denied. However, the Veteran is granted service connection for a current right ear hearing loss disability with a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied as the topical anti-inflammatory cream and back brace did not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance under VA regulations.